The Saudi Arabia national football team is receiving support after drawing 1-1 with Uruguay in the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Saudi media personality Khaled Al-Sheneef defended team captain Salem Al-Dossari after the player faced a wave of criticism. Al-Dossari had been subjected to intense attacks in recent days, with calls for him to be excluded from the starting lineup against Spain. Al-Sheneef said in a statement on the program Dorina Gheir: I don't know why there is an exaggerated attack on Salem Al-Dossari, it's true that he didn't deliver what was expected against Uruguay. He added: despite this attack, Al-Dossari remains the only player who can make a difference for us, and the criticism against him has turned into insult and targeting, which should not happen because he is a player in our national team and we must support him in the international arena. The upcoming match against Spain will be difficult, and we must protect all players to achieve a positive result. Salem Al-Dossari is an important player in the Saudi Arabia national football team, with high technical skills and the ability to influence matches. His performance will be crucial in the upcoming match against Spain, where the Saudi Arabia national football team needs all its strength to win.