When the Green Lineup Gets a Nudge: Saudi Arabia Prepares to Face Comoros in the Arab Cup

Tactical lineup change ahead

Saudi press reports revealed an anticipated reshuffle in the Saudi national team’s starting XI as they prepare to face Comoros on Friday evening, in the second round of the Arab Cup group stage.

The tournament is held in Qatar and runs until December 18, with the Green opening their campaign by beating Oman 2-1, in a group also featuring Morocco.

Saudi outlet Al-Yaum cited coach Herve Renard, who will miss the match to attend the 2026 World Cup draw in the United States, potentially reshaping the lineup that faced Oman.

The paper also said the staff lean toward starting with striker Saleh Al-Shehri, with Saleh Abu Al-Shamat returning to the attacking midfield.

Match stakes

The Green aim to seal qualification early to the quarterfinals, avoiding any complex calculations by defeating Comoros.

Al-Shehri, who came on as a substitute in the last game, scored Saudi Arabia's second to guide the team to a valuable victory.

Sources say the rest of the lineup remains stable, with Al-Shehri the only likely change as Feras Al-Buraikan and Salem Al-Dosari join the attack.

Punchline 1: If football were a joke, Saudi’s subs would be the stand-up act—and the starters supply the punchlines on the scoreboard.

Punchline 2: Let’s hope the only red card today is the referee’s pen—signing off a victory, not a controversy.