According to the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, strongly rebuked the Saudi national football team players following their heavy 4-0 defeat against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite a promising start to their campaign against Uruguay, Donis’s squad crumbled against a dominant Spanish side, delivering a lackluster performance that leaves their chances of advancing past the group stage hanging in the balance.
Following the final whistle, the Sports Minister reportedly entered the locker room to deliver a stern speech filled with blame and disappointment regarding the team’s subpar performance against La Roja.
According to the source, the minister emphasized that such a bleak performance is entirely unacceptable under any circumstances, noting that the manner of the defeat left everyone dissatisfied.
Concluding his address, the Saudi minister urged the players to learn from their mistakes, move on from the painful Spanish defeat, and channel all their focus into the upcoming match against Cape Verde. He stressed the importance of winning the final group game to appease the fans and secure qualification for the Round of 32.
With Cape Verde having played out a 2-2 draw against Uruguay, a victory over the African nation in the final round of the group stage will be enough to guarantee Donis’s men a spot in the knockout phase, either as group runners-up or among the best third-placed teams.
