Arab Cup Rules Leave Saudi Green Short of Bodies: 21 Players Only
10 December 2025
Overview
Saudi Arabia's national team heads into the Arab Cup 2025 with injuries to two stars, forcing a constrained squad of 21 players. The team will proceed with three goalkeepers and 18 outfield players as replacements are tightly regulated.
Rules and implications
According to reports, the Arab Cup 2025 rules bar new call-ups when a squad member is sidelined during the tournament, with one exception only if a goalkeeper is injured. This leaves the Green with limited depth.
What happens next
The squad will aim to advance through the remaining rounds, starting with a quarterfinal against Palestine at Lusail Stadium. If victorious, they would meet the winner of the Iraq–Jordan tie in the semifinals, with the final or third-place match set for December 18.
Punchline 1: With 21 players, every substitution feels like a strategic meditation on depth.
Punchline 2: In football, depth is a number that sounds impressive until you try to pronounce it aloud at a press conference.
