Saudi Arabia defender Saud Abdulhamid will arrive late to the national team's training camp in the United States after his passport was stolen. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation confirmed on Monday that a break-in of the player's private vehicle in Amsterdam resulted in the loss of his travel documents.
Abdulhamid, currently playing for French side RC Lens on loan from AS Roma, was named in new coach Georgios Donis's preliminary 30-man squad. The Saudi national team is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup where they will compete in Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.
What happened during the incident?
The theft occurred while the player was in the Dutch capital with his family for his wedding ceremony. His private vehicle was broken into and personal belongings, including his passport, were stolen. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation stated it is coordinating with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Embassy in the Netherlands to issue the necessary documents for Abdulhamid to travel.
SAFF said in its official statement: "The Saudi Arabian Football Federation wishes to provide an official update regarding Saud Abdulhamid's delayed arrival at the national team's training camp." The federation added that authorities are working to resolve the issue quickly.
How does this affect Saudi Arabia's preparations?
The Saudi national team has traveled to the United States for training camps in New York and Texas. The team is scheduled to play three friendly matches against Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Senegal as part of their final preparations. The full match schedule can be viewed on our fixtures page.
The current Saudi squad includes a mix of experienced players and young talents in our team roster. Abdulhamid has been an important defensive element with 18 previous international appearances for the national team.
What is Saudi Arabia's World Cup 2026 plan?
The Green Falcons are preparing to compete in Group H at the 2026 World Cup. They face strong competition from Spain, one of the world's top-ranked teams, two-time champions Uruguay, and Cape Verde who delivered impressive performances during qualifiers.
Our team statistics show noticeable improvement in defensive performance during the qualifying campaign. The current training camp will focus on strengthening defensive cohesion and maximizing attacking opportunities.
When will Abdulhamid join the squad?
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has not specified an exact date for the defender's arrival. However, sources indicate that ongoing procedures with the Saudi Embassy in the Netherlands will help expedite replacement travel documents. The technical staff is temporarily adjusting training plans to compensate for the player's absence.
Abdulhamid recently joined French club Lens from Italian side Roma, making 24 appearances for the French team last season. Coach Donis is counting on him to form a strong defensive line for the national team.
The next step for Saudi Arabia will be completing preparations at the American training camp before the World Cup begins. The technical staff will focus on integrating all players into a unified tactical plan to face their challenging group opponents.
