Mohamed Al-Awis Returns to Saudi National Team after 452 Days: A Tactical Comeback in the Making
28 March 2026
What happened that sparked a comeback
Saudi Arabia's heavy 4-0 defeat to Egypt in a Friday friendly in Jeddah prompted urgent steps to quickly reorganize the Green's camp ahead of the next window. The squad is set to finish March with another friendly against Serbia on Serbian soil.
The recall and the plan
Head coach Hervé Renard decided to recall veteran goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Awis to the national team after a 452-day absence.
Saudi football sources revealed that Al-Awis, who plies his club trade with Al-Ta'la in the Saudi First Division, received a late-night call just before dawn on Saturday summoning him to the camp in Jeddah.
The call came from Saleh Al-Daoud, the team's football director, who directly asked the former Al-Hilal keeper to join the camp and then travel with the squad to Belgrade.
Renard and his staff have discussed incorporating Al-Awis into ongoing training in the Serbian capital as part of a broader program to sharpen technical and physical readiness ahead of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. This move is part of a broader push to sharpen the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The squad will train behind closed doors at the Partizan Belgrade complex as part of an intensive setup to lift the team's readiness for the forthcoming fixtures. Renard wants answers fast.
Al-Awis's return also follows a period in which he told officials in early 2025 that he hoped to retire from international duty to avoid future recalls, a stance that shifted after the heavy Egypt defeat and the ensuing strategic review.
The broader context includes ongoing coverage about coaches and players as Saudi Arabia plans for the World Cup 2026.
Renard also told teammates Ali Lajami and Hassan Kadish to stay focused with their clubs in the coming period as the Saudi program presses on.
With the training camp in Belgrade underway, the Green continue a closed session at the Red Star/Partizan facility as part of the short, focused buildup.
This piece sits among many analyses about the evolving Saudi lineup ahead of the World Cup.
Punchline 1: If Al-Awis keeps a clean sheet, the stadium might need a guardian angel.
Punchline 2: His comeback is so smooth that even the referee hands him the ball with a wink.
