From Mancini's Trap to Renard's Rescue: How the Green Navigate the Thorny Path to the World Cup
14 October 2025
Rocky Road to the World Cup
Saudi Arabia, steered by Hervé Renard, navigated a thorny path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a series of near-misses that kept fans on edge. Renard steadied the Green and guided them to a World Cup berth by topping their AFC playoff group ahead of Iraq and Indonesia.
In a decisive moment, Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 with Iraq on a Tuesday night, finishing the qualifier with 4 points and earning official qualification on goal difference as Iraq moved toward the global playoffs. The journey to the finals, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, had already included a challenging stretch that tested every facet of the squad.
Despite the eventual success, the road was marked by formidable obstacles and moments when the dream looked fragile. The team endured a wobbly balance of results, a reminder that football in the region is never a straight line to glory.
Man icon’s Trap
Roberto Mancini, the Italian coach, led the Verde team in the opening phase of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and also the 2024 AFC Asian Cup, before bowing out after a penalty defeat to Korea Republic in the Round of 16. Under Mancini, Saudi Arabia won just one match against China, lost to Japan, and drew with Indonesia and Bahrain, leaving the federation to officially terminate his contract after 18 matches. Across those fixtures, the Green won 7, drew 5, and lost 6, scoring 26 goals and conceding 22.
The early days under Mancini included a 3-1 loss to Costa Rica in a friendly and a goalless draw with Bahrain in World Cup qualifiers. The standout positive was a 4-0 victory over Pakistan, while the lows saw 1-3 defeats to Costa Rica and Mali in friendlies.
Renard’s Rescue
Enter Hervé Renard, the Frenchman who carried the hopes of Saudi fans and steadied a ship weathering storms. Renard successfully led the Green to a World Cup appearance in 2026, becoming the first coach to guide Saudi Arabia to a second World Cup qualification. While direct qualification initially remained elusive, Renard preserved balance and leadership through the most trying moments, guiding the team to third place in the group with 13 points, behind a dominant Japan and a strong Australia.
During the current qualifying campaign, Saudi posted 3 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, scoring 7 goals and conceding 8. The playoff path saw a tight 3-2 home win over Indonesia at the Ennahar venue, followed by Indonesia’s progress over Iraq in the subsequent steps, setting up a decisive clash in which a draw could still seal World Cup fate for the Green.
Ultimately, a goalless draw with Iraq meant Saudi Arabia secured World Cup qualification. Iraq, needing a victory to reach the finals directly, fell short and entered the global playoff route instead. In their head-to-head history, Saudi Arabia and Iraq had met 38 times, with Iraq holding 17 wins to Saudi’s 11 and 10 draws, totaling 90 goals (34 for Saudi and 56 for Iraq). Iraq’s biggest prior win was a 7-1 gulf tally in 1976, while Saudi’s last competitive World Cup win against Iraq came in 2018.
Across the broader arc of encounters, the Saudi side consistently showed resilience, and Renard’s stewardship was a key factor in taming turbulence and steering the team toward a historic seventh World Cup appearance. The narrative is a reminder that in football, leadership and timing matter as much as talent.
Two light notes to close: If patience is a footballing virtue, Renard has turned patience into a winning strategy; the deadline clock finally rang in Saudi’s favor. And as for Mancini, you could say his plan was ambitious—like a perfect drive in a simulation—only to find out the brakes were a little worn when it counted most.
