A major overhaul has officially begun within the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) following the national team’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 World Cup. One of the first casualties of this restructuring is expected to be Al-Hilal star, Salem Al-Dawsari.
Earlier, Yasser Al-Misehal announced his resignation as president of SAFF, stating that he takes full responsibility for the “Green Falcons” failing to progress past the group stage without securing a single victory.
According to Al-Arabiya channel, the federation has launched a comprehensive review to get the team back on track. At the top of their agenda is appointing a new team captain, following what is viewed as Al-Dawsari’s failure to lead effectively over the past two years.
This rebuilding phase comes at a critical time for the Saudi national team. They are gearing up for the Gulf Cup this coming November, followed by the highly anticipated 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which will be hosted on Saudi soil.
The federation aims to rely heavily on younger players for both tournaments, phasing out aging veterans. The first major decision in this strategy is stripping the 34-year-old Al-Dawsari of the captain’s armband.
This move coincides with widespread calls from the Saudi media urging Al-Dawsari to retire internationally, citing his poor performance in the tournament hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Consequently, the Al-Hilal winger is now seriously considering ending his international career.
Notably, Salem Al-Dawsari remains Saudi Arabia’s joint all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 3 goals (tied with Sami Al-Jaber). Throughout his international career, he has earned 110 caps and scored 26 goals.
