Georgios Donis, Saudi Arabia Head Coach: We Are Prepared for All Scenarios and Will Not Approach Uruguay with a Defensive Mindset

Georgios Donis, head coach of the Saudi Arabia national football team, confirmed the Green Falcons’ readiness for their opening match against Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup, as part of Group H, which also includes Spain and Cape Verde.

The Saudi team’s coach expressed confidence in his players’ ability to achieve a positive result in their World Cup opener, scheduled for early Tuesday morning.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Donis said: “We will not approach the match with a defensive mindset. We want to play with confidence on the pitch. Every coach aims to win, and we are prepared for all possible scenarios.”

He added: “Before facing Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, not many people expected us to win. Today, we must believe that we can achieve victory again. We know our capabilities well, just as we understand the strengths of our opponent.”

The Green Falcons coach emphasized the importance of taking the tournament one match at a time, noting that while the Uruguay match is extremely important, the team must focus on each game individually.

Georgios Donis explained that limited preparation time represented a challenge for the coaching staff, as the domestic league concluded at the end of May, leaving little time for preparations. He noted that the team completed 12 training sessions and played several friendly matches, stressing that the most important aspect was the commitment shown by everyone involved and the strong performances delivered by the players throughout the preparation period.

He also highlighted the positive impact of the development of the Saudi Pro League on local players, stating: “The investments made in Saudi football have significantly improved the quality of the league. Saudi players now compete regularly against world-class names, so facing top international stars is no longer something new to them.”

Concluding his remarks, Donis said: “We understand that players reach the end of the season carrying a considerable physical workload, but they demonstrated great endurance during the friendly matches. I believe we will be fully prepared for the match against Uruguay.”

Following the Uruguay match, Saudi Arabia will face Spain on June 21 and Cape Verde on June 26 in Group H.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Round of 32, alongside the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament’s 12 groups