Saudi Confidence Soars as Renard Faces Iraq’s Coach in World Cup Qualifier Showdown

Match Preview

Saudi Arabia’s coach Hervé Renard faces his Australian counterpart Graham Arnold as the Green Falcons host Iraq in the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The clash marks the third meeting between Renard and Arnold in their coaching careers, following encounters in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Renard previously outpaced Arnold, who was then in charge of Australia, with Renard securing a win and a draw in their head-to-head duels. The Saudis had earlier defeated Australia by a single goal, while the other meeting finished goalless, leaving Arnold still seeking a win against Renard.

Saudi Arabia, guided by Renard, enters the fixture with confidence and a clear plan. They sit at the top of the AFC Asian Qualifiers playoff group on goals scored, level on points with Iraq but ahead on goal difference. Iraq, meanwhile, remains in the hunt, having shown resilience in recent results. In the latest round, Saudi Arabia beat Indonesia 3-1, while Indonesia’s hopes were dented by a 1-0 loss to Iraq. The competition rules state that the group winner advances directly to the World Cup, while the runner-up will face a two-legged playoff against the winner from another group for a final berth.

Renard has extra motivation with Abdullah Al-Hamdan returning to training after a cold spell, offering another attacking option for the Saudi side as they prepare for the Iraq clash. Hamdan, a regular since 2019 under Renard, has contributed goals and assists in recent campaigns. On the flip side, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud has been sidelined due to injury, and midfielders Mohammed Kano and Al-Aboud will miss the game, with Kano suspended after a red card against Indonesia. The coach might look to Ziad Al-Jahani to provide a midfield spark in place of Kano, while Hamdan remains a key attacking option for the Green Falcons.

Renard’s influence is widely recognized; he is the fourth foreign coach to lead the Saudi side to a World Cup finals appearance, following German, Argentine, and Dutch predecessors. The French coach has steered the team to qualification for the 2022 World Cup and has accelerated the path to the 2026 edition with a strong qualifying campaign. Across ten World Cup qualifiers, Renard has overseen seven wins, two draws and a single defeat, with twelve goals scored and six conceded, earning 23 points.

With the stadium buzzing and a sense of optimism in the air, Saudi Arabia’s hopes remain bright. A victory or even a draw would secure direct qualification, while a defeat could open the door to a playoff showdown. The Iraqi side, led by Arnold, will be desperate to overturn the head-to-head record they’ve faced against Renard and chase a place in the global playoff. Expect a tactical contest with moments of individual quality as the Green Falcons aim for a direct route to the World Cup in 2026.

Punchline 1: If Renard’s playbook were coffee, it’d be a double shot—strong enough to wake the offside line. Punchline 2: And if that defense tightened any more, even the ball would need a passport to get through.