Saudi Arabia’s Coaching Dilemma: Will Renard Stay or Hand the Reins to a New Boss Before 2026?

Background

Riyadh: Two options facing Saudi Arabia to replace Renard. According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh, the federation is considering relieving head coach Hervé Renard and starting the search for a replacement before the preparation phase for the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

According to sources, the options currently taper between hiring one of the current Pro League coaches or recruiting a new coach making his first Saudi experience, who can keep pace with Saudi football’s evolution and meet the expectations of officials and fans, while preserving the rising reputation of Saudi football in recent years.

Renard's stance and contract context

Renard had commented on a possible dismissal after the Greens failed to reach the final of the 2025 Arab Cup, saying: "I have a contract and I will continue working; I can't do anything if someone wants to take another decision. I am continuing, but if told my job is over I will go elsewhere—this is football."

Renard's contract as the 57-year-old French coach runs with the national team through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals, making any termination a decision for management if a change is made soon.

Recent results and outlook

On the latest defeat to Jordan, Renard said: "We prepared for the match well, the match statistics were clear, we dominated possession at 69% to 31% for the opponent, we knew Jordan's style, but we were not effective defensively, the opponent created many chances, and we did not preserve the draw or score."

The Saudi team had exited the Arab Cup in the semi-finals after losing to Jordan 1-0 at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar, on Monday night.

What’s next?

The decision on Renard’s future hinges on administrative directions as the team looks to stabilize ahead of the 2026 World Cup finals and the 2027 Asian Cup.

For fans and officials, the big question remains: who will lead Saudi Arabia into the next phase of its football rise?

Sniper-style punchlines: 1) In football, contracts are like wind—they drift until someone says, “Change the plan,” then suddenly everyone runs to the press room. 2) If coaching changes paid salaries, Renard would be rolling in bonuses, but alas, the only thing guaranteed is another press conference and a fresh cup of coffee for the journalists.