The Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported that Hervé Renard could be dismissed from his position as coach of the Saudi national team if his team delivers a lackluster performance against Serbia next Tuesday.
The French coach is facing a wave of criticism following the Green Falcons’ heavy 4-0 defeat to Egypt in a friendly match in Jeddah, just two and a half months before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
The attacks on Renard are not new; they have been ongoing since the World Cup qualifiers and intensified after Saudi Arabia’s disappointing performance in the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar. Now, doubts are growing about whether he is the right man to lead the Saudi national team in the upcoming World Cup.
According to the latest report, the Serbia match will be Renard’s final test, during which his performance will be evaluated and could lead to his dismissal if necessary.
Initially, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation is inclined to retain Hervé Renard until the World Cup due to the tight schedule. However, if the team’s performance continues in the same vein as the Egypt match, officials will be unable to protect him any longer and will issue a decision to dismiss him immediately.
It’s worth noting that Renard led Saudi Arabia to a historic victory in the 2022 World Cup against Argentina, winning 2-1, before losing to Poland and Mexico and being eliminated in the group stage. He then left to coach the French women’s national team before returning for a second stint, succeeding Roberto Mancini, approximately a year ago.
