The Saudi Arabian U-23 national team has intensified its technical and physical preparations in Jeddah ahead of its participation in the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship, which Saudi Arabia is hosting and which will run until January 24. These preparations are taking place amidst significant media and public interest, given the importance of the tournament being held on Saudi soil and in front of its home crowd.
The Saudi national team players held their training session this evening at the King Abdullah Sports City training ground, under the supervision of Italian head coach Luigi Di Biagio and his assistant coaching staff. The coaching staff focused on fitness drills to improve the players' endurance, followed by practicing various tactical plays reflecting the Italian philosophy of defensive organization and rapid transitions to attack. The session concluded with a full-field scrimmage to assess the readiness of the starting players.
In a related development, the Saudi Arabia U-23 national team will conclude its field preparations at 6:00 PM tomorrow, Monday, in anticipation of its upcoming match against Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday evening. This match is part of the first round of the group stage and is of paramount importance as it sets the tone for the tournament. The Green Falcons are aiming to secure three points to boost their chances of early qualification from Group A, which also includes strong teams such as Vietnam, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Regarding the participating list, coach Luigi Di Biagio decided to make an emergency change by excluding player Abdulmalik Al-Jaber due to medical unreadiness, and called up player Bassam Hazazi in his place to join the national team camp, in a move aimed at strengthening the team’s attacking options before the start of official competitions.
On another note, as part of the tournament's organizational procedures, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), represented by the AFC U-23 Championship 2026 Organizing Committee, held a welcome meeting for the Saudi Arabian national team delegation at their Jeddah residence. The meeting included a detailed explanation of the tournament's regulations and rules, a review of the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game, and an emphasis on integrity and fair play in matches. This is a routine procedure prior to the start of major continental tournaments to ensure that the competitions are conducted according to the highest international standards.
The Kingdom’s hosting of this tournament carries important sporting dimensions, as age-group tournaments are the main source of the first national team. This hosting comes as a confirmation of the Kingdom’s status as a global and continental sporting destination, and as a reinforcement of the Saudi football development plans that aim to build a strong generation capable of competing in upcoming international events.
