Saudi Football in a Storm: Will a Local Coach Steer the Green to the World Cup?
30 March 2026
Uncertain Future at the Helm
The future of French coach Hervé Renard with the Saudi national team remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Calls for Renard's dismissal have grown after the shock 4-0 loss to Egypt last Friday.
The Saudi federation has reportedly opened talks with local coach Saad Al-Shehri to discuss the possibility of filling Renard's role for now.
SOURCEs said the outreach with Al-Shehri was personal, aimed at assessing the Green's needs without discussing money or contract length.
This approach, the report adds, signals a move by the Saudi Football Federation to place trust in a local successor.
Al-Shehri's Track Record and Next Steps
Al-Shehri took charge of Al-Ettifaq after Steven Gerrard's departure, with the team sitting seventh in the Roshen Saudi League on 39 points.
He previously led the Saudi under-23s to the 2022 Asian Cup title, defeating Uzbekistan.
Also read: Video: Renard’s World Cup era with Saudi might be seen as risky, per some pundits.
Punchline 1: Sniper-level timing here: if Renard turns this around, the press will blink and miss nothing.
Punchline 2: And if not, at least the transfer window will move with the precision of a sniper—one shot, one headline.
