Saudi U-23 Triumph Reopens Spotlight on Al-Misehal After Arab Cup Fallout

Turning the Spotlight Back to the Youth

Wait for Yasser Al-Misehal, president of the Saudi Football Federation, to congratulate the Under-23 national team on winning the Gulf Cup, after he had faced a wave of harsh fan criticism over the senior team's failure.

The Olympic team clinched the Gulf Cup U-23 by beating Iraq 2-0 in the final, just 24 hours after the senior team went down 0-1 to Jordan in the Arab Cup semifinal.

In a post on X, Al-Misehal wrote: "I congratulate our Under-23 team on winning the Gulf Cup; this title, along with the youth and junior Gulf Cup titles, confirms the path for the future under the leadership of the wise leadership and continued monitoring by the Minister of Sports, and it highlights the remarkable presence of Saudi football talent."

He added: "Congrats to the champions and to the technical and administrative staff and the Saudi fans."

Some former Saudi football stars had called for the resignation of Al-Misehal and the federation after the senior team failed to reach the Arab Cup final.

Yet Al-Misehal did not comment on the loss to Jordan; his first public appearance was via a congratulatory post to the U-23 side.

Punchline 1: If leadership changes were footballs, this post just kicked a corner kick straight into the headlines.

Punchline 2: In Saudi football, timing is everything—Al-Misehal posts when the fans are already arguing, and somehow the post still goes viral.