The Saudi Arabia national football team, known as the Green Falcons, resumed their preparatory training on Thursday evening at their camp in Al-Khobar. This move is part of intensive preparations for the ninth and tenth rounds of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as reported by Arab News.
The team trained at Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium under the supervision of French coach Herve Renard. The team currently sits fourth in Group 4 of the qualifiers with just two points from three games, having scored one goal and conceded five. The session saw defender Ali Majrashi return to full training with the squad after recovering from a recent injury, while Muteb Al-Harbi and Mohammed Bakr continued their individual rehabilitation programs under the medical team's supervision.
What is the remaining preparation schedule?
The Green Falcons are set to resume preparations on Friday afternoon with a closed-door training match against the Jordanian national team. The match will also be held at Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium and is part of the plan to boost player fitness and technical readiness ahead of the crucial official matches. This comes as the team seeks to improve its results after a series of draws in recent outings, having drawn its last four official matches.
The team's position in the group standings highlights an urgent need for victories to bolster qualification chances. Their last official result was a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde Islands on June 27th. Fans can follow updates on the core squad via our dedicated squad page.
How do injuries affect Renard's plans?
Majrashi's return to full training is positive news for the technical staff, especially for a defensive line that has conceded five goals in just three qualifying matches. However, the continued absence of Al-Harbi and Bakr from group training means Renard still lacks important options in his lineup. The medical team is working to accelerate the players' recovery to have them ready for the upcoming fixtures.
The French coach also faces a challenge in improving offensive output, with the team having scored only once in the qualifiers so far. The upcoming matches require greater efficiency in finishing attacks to convert dominance into actual points on the group table.
What are the challenges in the Asian qualifiers?
The Green Falcons enter the ninth and tenth qualifying rounds in a difficult position, needing positive results to strengthen their standing in the race to reach the World Cup. Their recent form of one win, three draws, and one loss in the last five matches shows the team's need for more consistency in performance and results. The sequence of those five results was draw, draw, draw, loss, win.
Renard and his technical team are focusing all efforts on physical and tactical preparation in the coming days. The closed-door friendly against Jordan will be an opportunity to test alternative formations and plans before the official matches. Fans can explore more detailed performance statistics from the qualifying campaign. The preparatory camp will conclude after the training match, after which the team will shift full focus to the official matches that will determine its fate in the journey to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
