Khaberni - Yasser Al-Mishal, the president of the Saudi Football Federation, resolved the debate about the first team's participation in the 2025 Arab Cup, confirming that "Al-Akhdar" will participate with all its stars led by the French coach Hervé Renard.
This announcement came amid joyful scenes following the Saudi national team's official qualification to the 2026 World Cup, after their draw with Iraq (0-0) at the end of the Asian qualifiers, securing their seventh qualification in history, benefiting from their previous victory against Indonesia (3-2).
Al-Mishal clarified in statements to the winwin website that the team will enter the Arab tournament with its primary squad to compete for the title, confirming that the participation will be an important preparation stage before the World Cup kicks off.
During his talk, Al-Mishal specially congratulated Qatar for their official qualification to the 2026 World Cup and wished luck to Iraq and the UAE, who are participating in the global play-off to clinch a qualification spot.
Al-Mishal said: "We hope that the winner from Iraq and the UAE can represent the Arabs in the upcoming World Cup."
The 2025 Arab Cup will be held in Qatar from December 1 to 18, marking Doha's third hosting after the 1998 and 2021 editions.
The draw placed Saudi Arabia in Group B alongside Morocco, Oman or Somalia, and Yemen or Comoros.
The other groups are as follows:
Group A: Qatar, Tunisia, Syria or South Sudan, Palestine or Libya.
Group C: Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Kuwait or Mauritania.
Group D: Algeria, Iraq, Bahrain or Djibouti, Lebanon or Sudan.
The last edition of the tournament, held in Qatar in 2021, saw the Algerian national team crowned champions after defeating Tunisia (2-0) in the final.
The Roshan league in Saudi Arabia will be paused during the Arab Cup period due to the participation of the first team in the tournament, unlike what will happen during the African Nations Cup held between December 21, 2025, and January 18, 2026, where league matches will continue without the international professionals participating with their teams.
The Arab Cup is considered by the technical staff led by Hervé Renard as an ideal preparation stage before participating in the 2026 World Cup, which Saudi Arabia hopes to perform strongly in after their honorable participation in the 2022 World Cup when they won against Argentina with two goals to one.
Renard has led the Saudi national team in two terms, the first from July 2019 until March 2023, and the second since October 2024 to date.
Renard is bound by a contract with the Saudi Federation until the final of the Asian Cup 2027, which the kingdom will host on its soil.
