Saudi Arabia head into the 2026 World Cup with a brand-new head coach. Georgios Donis was appointed on April 24, just seven weeks before the tournament, after the Saudi Football Federation sacked Hervé Renard following back-to-back friendly defeats in March. Donis confirmed his final 26-player squad on June 1, with Salem Al-Dawsari named captain for his third World Cup appearance.
The Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 squad is built almost entirely on domestic talent. Twenty-five of the 26 players compete in the Roshn Saudi League, with RC Lens right back Saud Abdulhamid the only European-based selection. Al-Dawsari carries 108 caps into the tournament as the squad’s most experienced player.
The Green Falcons head to their seventh World Cup ranked 60th by FIFA (as of November 2025), drawn in Group H against Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde.
This is your full Saudi Arabia squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Saudi Arabia 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Mohammed Al Owais | Al Ula | 34 |
| GK | Nawaf Al Aqidi | Al Nassr | 26 |
| GK | Ahmed Al Kassar | Al Qadsiah | N/A |
| DF | Abdulelah Al Amri | Al Nassr | 29 |
| DF | Hassan Tambakti | Al Hilal | 27 |
| DF | Jehad Thikri | Al Qadsiah | N/A |
| DF | Ali Lajami | Al Hilal | N/A |
| DF | Hassan Kadesh | Al Ittihad | N/A |
| DF | Saud Abdulhamid | RC Lens | 26 |
| DF | Mohammed Abu Al Shamat | Al Qadsiah | N/A |
| DF | Ali Majrashi | Al Ahli | N/A |
| DF | Moteb Al Harbi | Al Hilal | 26 |
| DF | Nawaf Boushal | Al Nassr | 26 |
| DF | Ayman Yahya | Al Nassr | N/A |
| MF | Mohammed Kanno | Al Hilal | 31 |
| MF | Abdullah Al Khaibari | Al Nassr | N/A |
| MF | Ziyad Al Johani | Al Ahli | N/A |
| MF | Nasser Al Dawsari | Al Hilal | 27 |
| MF | Musab Al Juwayr | Al Qadsiah | 22 |
| MF | Sultan Mandash | Al Hilal | N/A |
| MF | Alaa Al Hajji | Neom SC | 30 |
| FW | Salem Al-Dawsari (C) | Al Hilal | 34 |
| FW | Firas Al-Buraikan | Al Ahli | 26 |
| FW | Saleh Al Shehri | Al Ittihad | 32 |
| FW | Abdullah Al Hamdan | Al Nassr | 26 |
| FW | Khalid Al Ghannam | Al Ettifaq | 25 |
For all 48 team squads, see our World Cup 2026 squad page.
Quick Stats
Saudi Arabia’s squad is one of the most domestically concentrated at the 2026 finals. Key numbers:
- Most-capped player: Salem Al-Dawsari (108 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Salem Al-Dawsari (26 international goals)
- Saudi Pro League players: 25
- European-based players: 1 (Saud Abdulhamid, RC Lens)
- Oldest confirmed: Mohammed Al Owais and Salem Al-Dawsari (both 34)
- Only uncapped player: Alaa Al Hajji (Neom SC, 0 caps)
- Qualifying top scorer: Firas Al-Buraikan (five goals in AFC qualification)
Key Players to Watch in the Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 Squad
Salem Al-Dawsari, Al Hilal. Al-Dawsari arrives at his third World Cup with 108 caps, 26 international goals, and the captain’s armband. His finish against Argentina in Qatar 2022 is the most celebrated moment in recent Saudi football history. At 34, the Al Hilal winger sets the tempo for the national side. His vision and movement are Saudi Arabia’s best asset against better-ranked opponents.
Firas Al-Buraikan, Al Ahli. The Al Ahli striker finished as Saudi Arabia’s top scorer in AFC qualification with five goals, adding to his 15 international goals from 69 caps. Sharp movement in tight spaces and a reliable left foot make him the squad’s most dangerous finisher. He’s the player who decides whether the Green Falcons leave the group stage.
Mohamed Kanno, Al Hilal. Kanno is the defensive engine in Saudi Arabia’s midfield. The Al Hilal holding midfielder has 71 caps and eight international goals, and he’ll play a key role in Donis’s organised block. His ability to break up opposition play and win possession early protects the defence and gives Saudi Arabia a platform to counter-attack.
Saud Abdulhamid, RC Lens. Abdulhamid became the first Saudi to win European domestic silverware when RC Lens lifted the Coupe de France in May 2026. The 26-year-old has 53 caps and is the squad’s only European-based player. His Ligue 1 experience shows in his positioning, timing in the tackle, and range down the right flank. He’s a key piece of Donis’s defensive structure.
Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 Schedule
Saudi Arabia play all three group stage matches on the US East Coast and in the South. Kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) and Arabia Standard Time (AST) for fans back home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (AST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 | Uruguay | Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium), Miami | 6:00 PM | 1:00 AM (June 16) |
| June 21 | Spain | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta | 12:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| June 26 | Cape Verde | Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium), Houston | 8:00 PM | 3:00 AM (June 27) |
Saudi Arabia’s pre-tournament schedule: a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador on May 30 in New Jersey, Puerto Rico in Austin on June 5, and a final friendly against Senegal in San Antonio on June 9. All kick-off times follow the official 2026 World Cup fixture schedule, confirmed at the December 5, 2025 draw.
How Saudi Arabia Qualified for World Cup 2026
Saudi Arabia’s qualification required four rounds of AFC competition. They advanced through the second round as runners-up from a group with Jordan, Tajikistan and Palestine. The third round was tougher. Placed with Japan, Australia, Indonesia, China and Bahrain, only the top two qualified directly.
Saudi Arabia started inconsistently. A run of just two points from four matches threatened their campaign as Japan and Australia pulled clear. The Green Falcons recovered in early 2025: Al-Dawsari scored the winner against China on March 20, and they earned a draw in Saitama against Japan five days later. Back-to-back wins over Bahrain followed, but a 2-1 defeat to Australia in the final group match sent them to the fourth round.
The fourth round was a three-team home tournament with Iraq and Indonesia. Saudi Arabia beat Indonesia 3-2 on October 8, 2025. Iraq’s 1-0 win over Indonesia the same day meant a draw in the final fixture would seal qualification. On October 14 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Iraq played out a 0-0. The Green Falcons were through. Read the full Saudi Arabia World Cup history for the complete record.
Head Coach: Georgios Donis
Georgios Donis, born in Frankfurt to Greek parents in 1969, takes charge of Saudi Arabia at his first major international tournament. As a player, he became the first Greek in the English Premier League when Blackburn Rovers signed him in 1996 from Panathinaikos.
His coaching career includes the Cypriot double with APOEL in 2013-14 and Saudi club roles at Al Hilal, Al Wehda, Al Fateh and Al Khaleej. The Saudi Football Federation appointed him on April 24, 2026, replacing Hervé Renard after two consecutive friendly defeats. Alaa Al Hajji, the squad’s only uncapped player, previously worked under Donis at Al Wehda.
Donis is direct on his philosophy. At the squad announcement he said: “I want to see my team from the first game very organised, very disciplined, to show our ambition.” A compact 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 block is expected, with defensive shape taking priority before releasing Al-Dawsari and Al-Buraikan on the counter.
Group H at a Glance
Saudi Arabia face two former World Cup winners in Group H, with Cape Verde making their tournament debut.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2 | 17th | Winner (2010) |
| Uruguay | 16 | 15th | Winner (1930, 1950) |
| Saudi Arabia | 60 | 7th | Round of 16 (1994) |
| Cape Verde | 68 | 1st | Debut |
Spain won Euro 2024 under Luis de la Fuente and remain a serious contender. Uruguay under Marcelo Bielsa carry Darwin Nunez as their chief attacking threat. Saudi Arabia’s realistic aim is a strong enough third-place finish to advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams across all groups.
Cape Verde’s debut makes the June 26 Houston fixture a pivotal one. Follow the Group H standings as results come in.
FAQ About Saudi Arabia World Cup Squad 2026
What is Saudi Arabia’s nickname?
Saudi Arabia are known as the Green Falcons. The name reflects the national colour and the falcon’s status as a symbol of precision across Arabia. The team play in their traditional all-green home kit.
Has Saudi Arabia beaten Spain before?
Saudi Arabia have faced Spain three times and lost all three. The first World Cup meeting ended in a 1-0 Spain win in the 2006 group stage. Spain also won a 5-0 friendly in 2012. A result in Atlanta on June 21 would rank among Saudi Arabia’s greatest.
What happened when Saudi Arabia last played Uruguay?
Their last meeting was a 1-0 Uruguay win at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Saudi Arabia have faced Uruguay three times without a win. The June 15 opener in Miami is a tough first test with only seven weeks of preparation behind the team.
Saudi Arabia’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
Saudi Arabia arrive in Group H as the third-ranked side and clear underdogs. The Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 squad is domestically tight-knit, but Donis has had only seven weeks to build chemistry. Two former World Cup winners in the opening fixtures makes for a punishing start.
The best-case scenario is a draw against Uruguay, discipline against Spain, and three points against Cape Verde. That puts Saudi Arabia in contention for one of the eight third-place spots that advance to the Round of 32.
The 2022 win over Argentina proved this group doesn’t fold under pressure. Saudi Arabia won’t be anyone’s favourite in Group H, but they’re more than capable of punishing a side that takes them lightly.
