World Cup Countdown in the Mist: Saudi Arabia Drops in FIFA Rankings Ahead of 2026

World Cup Ranking Shake-Up

FIFA published the November 2025 national team rankings, and Saudi Arabia experienced a clear dip, sliding two spots to 60th in the world, down from 58 the previous month.

In Asia, the Green Falcons dropped to seventh place, behind Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, and Iraq. Arab-wise, Saudi Arabia ranked sixth among Arab nations, trailing Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Qatar.

The new standing officially places Saudi Arabia in the third pot for the 2026 World Cup draw, set to take place on December 5 in the United States. The top seeds and the four initial pots were outlined as follows for the opening stages of the tournament…

First seed: Mexico, the United States, and Canada as automatic hosts, followed by Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3), England (4), Brazil (5), Portugal (6), the Netherlands (7), Belgium (8), Germany (9).

Second seed: Croatia (10), Morocco (11), Colombia (13), Uruguay (16), Switzerland (17), Japan (18), Senegal (19), Iran (20), South Korea (22), Ecuador (23), Austria (24), Australia (26).

Third seed: Norway (29), Panama (30), Egypt (34), Algeria (35), Scotland (36), Paraguay (39), Tunisia (40), Ivory Coast (42), Uzbekistan (50), Qatar (51), Saudi Arabia (60), South Africa (61).

Fourth seed: Jordan (66), Cape Verde (68), Ghana (72), New Zealand (86), Haiti (84), Curaçao (82), plus six teams yet to be decided through the global playoff.

With a dip in the ranking, the Saudi side headed to a November window in Jeddah for two friendlies. The Green Falcons, led by French coach Hervé Renard, earned a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Ivory Coast, but suffered a 0-2 defeat to Algeria in the second match.

The clash with Algeria stood out for its lack of tempo and sharp passing; the team looked flat from the opening minutes and fans expressed discontent on social media, calling for changes before the 2026 World Cup.

Renard’s influence in that match drew questions, as the coach known for his mental presence and meticulous attention to detail appeared less engaged on the touchline. Criticism surged online, with many urging a coaching change ahead of the 2026 World Cup to protect the long-term project.

Arab Cup.. a golden opportunity for correction

Coming shortly after, the Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar (December 1-18) is viewed by the coaching staff as a prime chance to rebuild trust and fix mistakes. The federation confirmed Saudi participation with the full-strength squad, signaling seriousness in preparing for the World Cup.

Saudi Arabia were drawn into Group B, alongside Morocco (the defending Arab Cup champion and a strong Arab power), and winners of the Oman-Somalia and Comoros-Yemen matches. The top two finishers from each group will advance to the knockout stage.

Renard has repeatedly stated his ambition to contend for the title, arguing that positive results in this tournament would provide a psychological boost, reinforce players’ confidence, and calm the current fan backlash. It will also test new selections and address both defensive and attacking gaps ahead of the World Cup, shaping the team’s approach for the upcoming showpiece.

Domestic talent crisis.. Nelo Vindaga’s view

Criticism went beyond the friendlies, extending to analysis from veteran Portuguese coach Nelo Vednada (Nelo Vindaga), a former Saudi boss. He contended that the current level of the Green Falcons falls well short of what was displayed at the 2022 World Cup, pointing to the increased number of foreign players in the Saudi league as a key factor—10 foreigners in total, with eight on the squad limit.

Vindaga reportedly said that in 2022, Saudi players were essential for their clubs, playing many matches, gaining fitness and confidence evident in the historic victory over Argentina. Now, playing time is limited for several important players, and this is reflected in the national team’s level.

The Saudi national team now faces a delicate juncture: a decline in the world ranking, mixed performances in recent friendlies, rising fan anger, and internal issues regarding domestic participation. Yet the Arab Cup offers a critical chance to reorganize, rebuild confidence, and prove that the long-term project toward the 2026 World Cup remains on track.

All eyes will be on Qatar in the coming weeks; the tournament could be a turning point that restores hope for fans, or it could heighten pressure on the coaching staff and players just over a year from the global showpiece.

Two quick humorous notes to end on a high (sniper-style): If progress were a sniper shot, Saudi football would be aiming at the World Cup, but the bullet keeps missing the target and grazing the press box instead. And remember, in football as in life, sometimes the best plan is simply to stop overthinking and let the ball do the talking… which, right now, doesn’t always happen.