Saudi Arabia have named their 2026 World Cup squad as they attempt to advance from the group stage for the first time since 1994.
Former Greek international, Georgios Donis, is the man who has been charged with leading Saudi Arabia into the tournament, after being appointed in April of this year.
The Saudi Arabia squad doesn’t have many players that will be well-known by most English football fans but it’s worth keeping an eye on Saud Abdulhamid of Lens and Abdullah Al-Hamdan, who plays at Al-Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 squad
| Squad number | Player | Position | Domestic club | International caps | International goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Mohammed Al-Owais | GK | Al-Ula (Saudi Arabia) | 63 | 0 |
| 1 | Nawaf Al-Aqidi | GK | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 22 | 0 |
| 22 | Ahmed Al-Kassar | GK | Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Arabia) | 8 | 0 |
| 12 | Saud Abdulhamid | DF | Lens (France) | 53 | 1 |
| 5 | Hassan Al-Tambakti | DF | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 51 | 0 |
| 4 | Abdulelah Al-Amri | DF | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 41 | 1 |
| 13 | Nawaf Boushal | DF | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 24 | 0 |
| 3 | Ali Lajami | DF | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 20 | 1 |
| 2 | Ali Majrashi | DF | Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) | 20 | 0 |
| 14 | Hassan Kadesh | DF | Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) | 19 | 2 |
| 24 | Moteb Al-Harbi | DF | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 11 | 0 |
| 25 | Jehad Thakri | DF | Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Arabia) | 6 | 0 |
| 26 | Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat | DF | Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Arabia) | 5 | 0 |
| 10 | Salem Al-Dawsari | MF | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 108 | 26 |
| 23 | Mohamed Kanno | MF | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 75 | 8 |
| 6 | Nasser Al-Dawsari | MF | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 42 | 0 |
| 15 | Abdullah Al-Khaibari | MF | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 38 | 0 |
| 7 | Musab Al-Juwayr | MF | Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Arabia) | 33 | 6 |
| 8 | Ayman Yahya | MF | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 25 | 0 |
| 16 | Ziyad Al-Johani | MF | Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) | 11 | 0 |
| 20 | Sultan Mandash | MF | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 5 | 1 |
| 18 | Alaa Al-Hejji | MF | Neom (Saudi Arabia) | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Firas Al-Buraikan | FW | Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) | 69 | 15 |
| 11 | Saleh Al-Shehri | FW | Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) | 55 | 18 |
| 19 | Abdullah Al-Hamdan | FW | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 48 | 11 |
| 17 | Khalid Al-Ghannam | FW | Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia) | 5 | 0 |
Saudi Arabia’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, under the guidance of coach Georgios Donis, presents a blend of experienced players and emerging talents, predominantly drawn from the Saudi Pro League. The goalkeeping duties are likely to be shared by Mohammed Al-Owais, with 63 caps, and Nawaf Al-Aqidi, who has 22 caps.
The defence features seasoned players such as Saud Abdulhamid and Hassan Al-Tambakti, both with over 50 caps, alongside Abdulelah Al-Amri. Younger defenders like Nawaf Boushal and Ali Majrashi also provide depth. Saud Abdulhamid is the only player in the Saudi Arabia squad that plays his football outside of the nation.
The midfield is marshalled by captain Salem Al-Dawsari, a highly influential player with 108 caps and 26 goals. He is supported by Mohamed Kanno and Nasser Al-Dawsari. Musab Al-Juwayr and Ayman Yahya represent the younger generation in the midfield, bringing energy and potential.
In attack, Firas Al-Buraikan leads the line with 69 caps and 15 goals, complemented by Saleh Al-Shehri and Abdullah Al-Hamdan. The squad’s composition suggests a reliance on domestic talent, aiming to leverage familiarity and cohesion for their World Cup campaign. Without much quality, it might be a short summer for the nation.
- Read more: Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 odds
Three players to look out for this summer
Saud Abdulhamid (Lens)
Saud Abdulhamid, the 26-year-old defender, is expected to be a significant asset for Saudi Arabia at the 2026 World Cup. Currently playing for Lens, Abdulhamid is the only player within the squad that brings European club experience, which is invaluable for the national team. With 53 caps for Saudi Arabia, he is a seasoned international player despite his relatively young age.
Abdulhamid’s versatility is a key strength; he can operate effectively as a right-back or a right wing-back, contributing both defensively and in attack. In the 2025/2026 Ligue 1 season, he recorded 2 goals and 4 assists, highlighting his offensive capabilities. His ability to make incisive passes into the box and win tackles will be crucial for Saudi Arabia in transitioning from defence to attack and maintaining possession. His recent form and experience at a high level will be vital in strengthening the Saudi defence and providing an attacking outlet from the flanks, potentially influencing key matches this summer.
Abdullah Al-Hamdan (Al-Nassr)
The 26-year-old forward from Al-Nassr, is set to be a key attacking option for Saudi Arabia in the 2026 World Cup. With 48 caps and 11 goals for the national team, he brings valuable international experience and a proven goal-scoring ability.
Al-Hamdan’s impact will primarily come from his versatility and offensive contributions. Playing as a forward, he is known for his ability to find space, create chances, and finish clinically. In the 2025/2026 Professional League season, he has already contributed with 1 goal and 1 assist in 20 matches, demonstrating his involvement in attacking plays. His strong passing and ability to deliver into the box will be crucial for unlocking opposition defences. As part of Georgios Donis’s tactical setup, Al-Hamdan is expected to operate on the flanks, providing width and a direct threat to goal, complementing the main striker and potentially influencing crucial moments in matches.
Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal)
Salem Al-Dawsari enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Saudi Arabia’s undisputed talisman and captain. At 34, the Al-Hilal winger remains the Green Falcons’ primary creative engine, tasked with navigating a formidable Group H featuring Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. Under manager Georgios Donis, Al-Dawsari’s role has evolved into a veteran leader whose big-game temperament is legendary, most notably evidenced by his iconic winner against Argentina in 2022.
His impact this summer will be dual-faceted: providing clinical finishing from the left flank and mentoring a squad increasingly integrated with European-based talents like Saud Abdulhamid. With over 200 club goal contributions, his technical proficiency in tight spaces and ability to produce “magic” remain vital for a team often playing on the counter. If Saudi Arabia is to upset the odds against elite opposition again, Al-Dawsari’s experience and clutch goal-scoring ability will be the decisive factor in their entire 2026 tournament progression.
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Saudi Arabia World Cup 2026 fixtures
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