Al Dawsari Leads Saudi Arabia’s World Cup Dreams

Saudi Arabia head coach Georgios Donis has announced the national team squad that will compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July, with 48 teams participating for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Leading the squad is Salem Al Dawsari, the Al Hilal star and 2025 AFC Player of the Year, alongside Saud Abdulhamid, the full-back currently playing for French side Lens, veteran striker Saleh Al Shehri, and prolific forward Firas Al Buraikan.

Saudi Arabia Squad:

• Goalkeepers:
  Nawaf Al Aqidi, Mohammed Al Owais, Ahmed Al Kassar.

• Defenders:
  Saud Abdulhamid, Jehad Thakri, Abdulelah Al Amri, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Lajami, Hassan Kadesh, Moteb Al Harbi, Nawaf Boushal, Ali Majrashi, Mohammed Abu Al Shamat.

• Midfielders:
  Ziyad Al Johani, Nasser Al Dawsari, Mohamed Kanno, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Alaa Hejji, Musab Al Juwayr, Sultan Mandash, Ayman Yahya, Khalid Al Ghannam.

• Forwards:
  Salem Al Dawsari, Abdullah Al Hamdan, Firas Al Buraikan, Saleh Al Shehri.

Five players were omitted from the final squad: Abdulrahman Al Sanbi, Saleh Abu Al Shamat, Abdulquddus Atiah, Zakaria Hawsawi, and Abdullah Al Salem.

Saudi Arabia’s greatest achievement at the FIFA World Cup remains its run to the Round of 16 in 1994, the nation’s only appearance in the knockout stages. The Green Falcons will be determined to replicate that success despite being drawn into a challenging Group H.

Al Dawsari has repeatedly proven himself on football’s biggest stages, and with the significant development of the Saudi Pro League, driven by the arrival of numerous high-quality international stars, Donis will believe that reaching the knockout rounds is an attainable objective.

Saudi Arabia will begin its Group H campaign against Uruguay on 15 June, before facing Spain on 21 June. The team will conclude its group-stage matches against Cape Verde on 26 June.