French coach Hervé Renard announced on Friday that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Saudi Arabia national football team, less than two months before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Saudi team is set to compete in Group H of the tournament, alongside Spain national football team, Uruguay national football team, and Cape Verde national football team.
In a phone interview with Agence France-Presse, Renard confirmed his dismissal when asked directly about his future with the Saudi squad.
“This is the nature of football,” said the 57-year-old coach, noting that Saudi Arabia has qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice during his tenure.
He added, “I am also the only coach who led Saudi Arabia through the qualifiers and managed the team in the finals, which was in the 2022 edition. At least, that will remain a source of pride for me.”
According to recent media reports in Saudi Arabia, Georgios Donis, current coach of Al-Khaleej FC, is expected to take over the national team and lead it at the upcoming World Cup.
The decision comes at a critical time for Saudi Arabia as it prepares for the global tournament, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
