Hervé Renard will leave the Saudi national team less than two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup. It is reported that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation has already agreed with his successor, with an official announcement expected shortly.
The French coach has faced harsh criticism in recent months due to the significant decline in the Saudi team’s performance and results, leading to increasing calls for his dismissal. However, the Saudi Federation initially opted to retain him and avoid any risks before the World Cup.
Ultimately, Renard will be dismissed in the coming days under pressure and concerns about a lackluster performance at the tournament. According to Saudi media, the Federation will compensate the coach with €5 million (22 million Saudi riyals) as his contract is still valid until next February.
Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej coach Donis is on the verge of taking over as manager of the Saudi national team for the 2026 World Cup, with a contract extending until the end of the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia next year.
A list of experienced Saudi coaches was discussed with the Saudi Football Federation, which ultimately found Donis to be the ideal choice, given his presence in the Saudi league since 2014 and his successful tenure managing four different clubs.
The Greek coach led Al-Hilal to the Saudi league title in 2015, and also managed Al-Wehda and Al-Fateh, before settling with Al-Khaleej in July 2024.
It is worth noting that the Saudi national team was drawn into a tough group for the 2026 World Cup, alongside European champions Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde, who have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history.
