The Saudi national football team concluded its training today, Thursday, in preparation for their match against the Egyptian team tomorrow, Friday, at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. This training camp is part of the Green's preparations during the FIFA international window in March, which is the third phase of their program for the 2026 World Cup.
Under the supervision of head coach Hervé Renard, the players conducted their training session at the training ground of King Abdullah Sports City, starting with warm-up exercises, followed by possession drills, and concluding with a half-field scrimmage. The session was attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Faisal, the Minister of Sports, who wore the new jersey of the Green, inspired by the patterns of the Saudi white ghutrah, specially made by Adidas.
Event Details
As part of the preparations, players Marwan Al-Suhafi and Naif Masoud joined the first team training after being called up from the reserve team camp. Meanwhile, player Muteb Al-Harbi did not complete the training session due to an ankle injury. At the same time, the reserve team continued its training under the guidance of Italian coach Luigi Di Biagio, starting with warm-up and ball possession drills, followed by various tactical exercises.
It is noteworthy that the Saudi national team will face the Egyptian team after nearly eight years since their last encounter, which took place during the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, where the Green won with goals from Salem Al-Dosari and Salman Al-Faraj, while Egyptian star Mohamed Salah was absent from that match.
Background & Context
This friendly match comes as part of the preparations for the 2026 World Cup, where the Saudi Green, led by coach Hervé Renard, aims to assess the players' readiness before announcing the final squad for the tournament. Historically, the Saudi Green has faced the Egyptian team on seven occasions, with Egypt winning four matches, while the Green won two, and one match ended in a draw.
During the current camp, Renard announced two lists, each containing 25 players, as he seeks to monitor the players' levels before including them in the main roster. Several names have been excluded due to injury, such as Salem Al-Dosari, Hassan Tambakti, and Zakaria Hawsawi, while some players from the reserve team have been called up.
Impact & Consequences
The match against the Egyptian team is an important opportunity for the Saudi Green to evaluate performance and readiness, especially after inconsistent performances in previous competitions. Additionally, this match represents a real test for coach Renard and his players before entering the World Cup, making it particularly significant given the upcoming challenges.
Renard is expected to make changes to his starting lineup, as he aims to give several players the opportunity to participate in the friendly match, reflecting his strategy in building a strong team capable of competing on international stages.
Regional Significance
This match is part of the broader trend towards enhancing sports relations between Arab countries, bringing together two teams with a long history of competition. The encounter also serves as a platform for cultural exchange and experiences among players, fostering the spirit of sports cooperation in the region.
In conclusion, football fans in the Arab region eagerly await this encounter, hoping that both teams will deliver a strong performance that reflects the development of football in the Arab world.