Green Spotlight: Saudi Arabia's Arab Cup 2025 Squad — Left-Back Gap and a Surprising Abu Al-Shamat Call-Up
20 November 2025
Squad Overview and Gaps
Saudi Arabia's 2025 Arab Cup squad was unveiled by French head coach Hervé Renard, naming 23 players with a familiar core while signaling a notable gap at left-back that could complicate rotations.
The team is set to compete in the Arab Cup in Qatar, from December 1 to 18, 2025, with the objective of advancing from the group stage and continuing the team's recent momentum on the international stage.
Goalkeepers: Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Ragid Najjar, Abdulrahman Al-Sanabi.
Defenders: Abdulilah Al-Omari, Walid Al-Ahmad, Nawaf Boshl, Mohammed Suleiman, Jihad Dhakri, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Ali Majrashi.
Midfielders: Murad Al-Hosawi, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Musab Al-Juwair, Mohammed Kano, Abdullah Al-Kheibri, Ayman Yahya, Nasser Al-Dosri.
Forwards: Salem Al-Dosari, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Saleh Al-Shehri, Firas Al-Breikan, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat.
Exclusions and Injury Updates
Two players were left out: Saud Abdul Hamid and Marwan Al-Sahafi, both blocked from joining the squad while the Arab Cup runs outside the international window in November; Saud plays for Lens in France, and Marwan has just moved to Royal Antwerp in Belgium, making a call-up improbable.
In addition, coach Renard ruled out Metab Al-Harbi due to injury, and Ziad Al-Jahani reportedly left the camp for health reasons.
Abu Al-Shamat's New Call-Up
With Saud Abdul Hamid unavailable, Renard called up Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, a left-back for Al Qadisiyah, to join the Arab Cup squad alongside his brother Saleh. Renard had previously explained that Abu Al-Shamat's absence in the prior camp did not reflect a lack of quality, but the coach cited the depth at this position as a reason to monitor more players.
Renard noted that the left-back slot is filled by several players in the squad's orbit, including Ali Majrashi, Saud Abdul Hamid, and Mohannad Al-Shnqiti, who are all watched closely. Abu Al-Shamat's inclusion provides another option for Renard if he chooses to deploy Majrashi or Nawaf Boshl at left-back when needed.
In practice, this means Renard can balance the group with more flexibility, should injuries or tactical shifts require it.
And to close with a light touch: two quick one-liners to keep the mood up around the pitch—1) If football were arithmetic, the left-back would be the constant that keeps the equation from spiraling. 2) Renard's press conferences move faster than a counter-attack—translations optional, results mandatory.
