Saudi football’s big ambitions hit a wall as FA president Al-Misehal steps down after World Cup exit
The president of the Saudi Football Federation, Yasir Al-Misehal, has resigned following the national team’s group stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, today, June 29. The resignation marks a significant change in leadership at a time when Saudi Arabia is working to establish itself as a consistent force on the global football stage. The decision comes immediately after a tournament where expectations far outweighed the results.
The departure has again raised questions about Saudi Arabia’s model of rapid football development, which combines heavy investment, high-profile appointments and long-term strategic ambitions, including hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup.
“The failure of the national team to qualify for the next round of the World Cup is a result that does not fulfill all our ambitions,” Al-Misehal wrote on social media. “I take full responsibility for this and apologize to everyone who was hoping to see our team in a better position.”
Al-Misehal, who led the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for seven years, was a central figure in shaping the country’s modern football identity, including its successful bid to host the 2034 World Cup. His tenure was marked by efforts to elevate domestic football infrastructure, increase international competitiveness and position Saudi Arabia as a growing presence in world football.
“Based on my belief that responsibility requires providing an opportunity for a new phase, I have decided not to continue until the end of the current term,” he added. Yasser Al-Misehal resigns as head of the Saudi Football Federation (image from X)
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Saudi Arabia finished bottom of Group H with two points, drawing with Uruguay and Cape Verde and losing to Spain. Despite entering the tournament with cautious optimism, the campaign failed to gain momentum and performances fell short of pre-tournament expectations. The result extended the pattern of struggles in the group stage as Saudi Arabia appeared in a third consecutive World Cup, but again failed to progress.
The misfortune was compounded by the qualification of the debutants at the Cape Verde Islands tournament, who qualified for the knockouts ahead of them. The results come after the government has poured huge sums into the sport in recent years, with Saudi clubs signing high-profile players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Junior in a bid to raise standards in the country. Saudi Arabia’s players collapse after exiting the World Cup (Photo Reuters)
Preparations for the tournament have also been marred by late managerial instability, with Herve Renard replaced by Georgios Donis less than two months before kick-off. The change was intended to restore the team’s trajectory, but instead contributed to a lack of continuity during a critical preseason window. Analysts have since pointed to the timing of the decision as a key factor in the team’s inability to build cohesion on the global stage.
With the departure of Al-Misehal, Saudi football now enters a transition phase that balances long-term ambitions with the immediate need for competitive stability. The focus will shift to rebuilding confidence in the national set-up while maintaining momentum for wider development goals, including youth systems, domestic league growth and preparations linked to their future role as World Cup hosts in 2034.
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Published on:
June 29, 2026 10:27 PM IST