Details of the Saudi national team squad announcement for the training camp
French coach Hervé Renard has officially announced the Saudi Arabian national football team's squad for the training camp to be held during the international break (FIFA days) this March. This important step is part of the third phase of a comprehensive and intensive preparation program aimed at getting the "Green Falcons" ready for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and ensuring a performance worthy of Saudi football's reputation.
The selected list included 25 players, a mix of experienced and young players, and their names are as follows: Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Mohammed Al-Yami, Ahmed Al-Kassar, Zakaria Hawsawi, Mutaib Al-Mufarrij, Hassan Kadash, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri, Rayan Hamed, Saud Abdul-Hamid, Ali Majrashi, Ayman Yahya, Salman Al-Faraj, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mohammed Kanno, Murad Hawsawi, Musab Al-Juwair, Salem Al-Dawsari, Turki Al-Ammar, Ziyad Al-Juhani, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Sultan Mandash, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Saleh Al-Shehri, and Firas Al-Buraikan.
Strong friendly matches: The Green Falcons face the Pharaohs and Serbia
The training camp is scheduled to take place in both Jeddah and Serbia from March 22nd to 31st. The camp will include two high-profile friendly matches. The Saudi national team will host their Egyptian counterparts on March 27th at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah in a highly anticipated Arab derby. Following this, the team will travel to Europe, where they will face Serbia in a challenging match on March 31st.
The strategic importance of the camp and its regional and international influence
The strategic importance of this training camp lies in the caliber of the teams the Saudi national team will face. Playing against Egypt provides a valuable experience against the African school of football, known for its physical strength and high skill level, which will positively impact both domestically and regionally by enhancing Arab competitiveness. Meanwhile, playing against Serbia, which boasts a number of professional players in major European leagues, offers Saudi players a golden opportunity to test their abilities against the tactical European school of football. This will raise the team's international readiness before upcoming official competitions and reaffirm the status of Saudi football and its ability to compete with the best.
A history of intensive preparations to reach the World Cup
Historically, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation has always been keen to provide high-level preparation programs before major tournaments. These preparations are a continuation of past successes, most notably the ideal preparation that preceded the Green Falcons' participation in the 2022 World Cup, culminating in a historic and stunning victory over Argentina. This footballing legacy places a great responsibility on the current generation and coaching staff to continue their diligent work, utilize international breaks to create complete harmony among the players, and implement new tactical ideas that ensure the continued dominance of Saudi football on the Asian and global stage.
A parallel training camp for the reserve team to enhance strategic depth
In a related development, and based on a comprehensive technical vision, it was decided to hold a parallel training camp for the national reserve team (B) in Jeddah during the same period (from March 22 to 31). This camp will be held under the general supervision of Hervé Renard and the direct technical leadership of Italian coach Luigi Di Biagio, coach of the under-23 national team, reflecting a clear strategy to build a solid foundation for the future.
The reserve team's roster included 25 promising players: Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, Mohammed Al-Absi, Rakan Al-Najjar, Mutaib Al-Harbi, Ahmed Sharahili, Khalifa Al-Dosari, Ali Lajami, Mohammed Sulaiman, Mohammed Mahzari, Nawaf Boushel, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Islam Hawsawi, Majed Kanbah, Eid Al-Mawlid, Nayef Masoud, Ali Al-Asmari, Mohammed Al-Majhad, Sabri Dahal, Marwan Al-Sahafi, Hammam Al-Hamami, Rakan Al-Ghamdi, Alaa Hajji, Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa, Thamer Al-Khaibri, and Fahd Al-Zubaidi.
The decision to hold a training camp for the national team (B) is a smart extension of the first team's preparations for the World Cup. This initiative aims to closely assess the levels of all available players, enhance the technical and physical readiness of the second string, and improve overall team cohesion. It also provides young and reserve players with a strong incentive to prove their worth and secure a place in the coaching staff's starting lineup before the official competitions begin.
