Saudi Arabia’s national team coach, Hervé Renard, will miss his team’s match against Comoros in the second round of the group stage of the 2025 Arab Cup.
The Green Falcons, under Renard’s leadership, began their campaign in the Arab Cup, held in Qatar, with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Oman.
The Saudi national team is scheduled to face Comoros next Friday at 9:30 PM Mecca time in the second round of the group stage.
According to Al-Riyadh newspaper, Renard will travel from Doha to Washington, D.C., to attend the 2026 World Cup draw, which is scheduled for Friday at approximately the same time as the Comoros match.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has agreed to have assistant coach François Rodríguez manage the Comoros match. Renard will then return to Doha a few hours later to lead the Saudi team in their final group stage match against Morocco.
The Saudi national team was placed in Pot 3 for the 2026 World Cup draw and awaits its group, which will be determined by the draw for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Renard had previously led Saudi Arabia to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, defeating Argentina in the first group stage match before losing to Poland and Mexico. He then left his post to coach the French women’s national team before returning last year to lead the Saudi team again, succeeding Roberto Mancini.
