Spain Is World’s Best, But Saudi Aren’t Writing Them Off

Saudi Draw: Group Eight features Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde

The Saudi national team, under French coach Hervé Renard, faced a challenging draw for the 2026 World Cup, announced on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Saudi Arabia were placed in Group Eight alongside Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde.

Renard spoke about the draw in a television interview: "As always, our group is difficult. Four years ago we faced Argentina and Mexico; today we have Spain, FIFA’s No. 1 and arguably the best team in the world, plus Uruguay, a very strong side."

Cape Verde is another quality opponent, eager to prove itself on the world stage—after all, this is the World Cup.

On preparation, Renard added: "Our squad is different, with only four players from the previous generation. The players need experience, and these games are opportunities to gain it, especially against Spain."

Asked about beating Spain, Renard said: "First, we can beat Spain; if they later become world champions, we would sign that now."

Regarding the timing of preparations: "We don’t know when we will start; we will begin planning as soon as we know the full details—venues and accommodations. Once we know where, we can organize everything."

In summary, Saudi recognizes the challenge but remains hopeful about surprising a football powerhouse in 2026.

Punchline 1: If Saudi pull off the upset, even the trophy will need an extra passport to cross borders with style.

Punchline 2: And if you blink, you might miss Saudi’s counter—football-speed dialed up to ‘oops, we scored again’.