- Yasser Al Misehal has resigned after the team’s World Cup exit
- Saudi Arabia finished bottom of Group H with two points
- Al Misehal accepted responsibility and apologised to supporters
Saudi Arabia’s Football Federation President, Yasser Al Misehal, has stepped down following the national team’s disappointing exit from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the Green Falcons finished at the bottom of Group H with just two points after failing to record a victory in their three matches.
They drew 1-1 with Uruguay, played out a goalless stalemate against Cape Verde, and ended their campaign with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Spain.
In a statement shared on X on Sunday night, Al Misehal accepted responsibility for the team’s poor performance, saying the outcome was far below the expectations of the federation and Saudi football fans.
He apologised to supporters, acknowledging that the team had failed to deliver the results many had hoped for at the tournament.
According to him, stepping aside was the most responsible decision, as it would allow the federation to begin a new chapter under fresh leadership before the expiration of his current tenure.
Al Misehal had served as president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for seven years and was instrumental in securing the country’s successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, a major milestone in Saudi Arabia’s long-term sports development strategy.
Saudi Arabia entered the 2026 tournament hoping to improve on previous World Cup performances but failed to advance beyond the group stage for the third consecutive appearance.
The disappointing campaign followed a difficult build-up marked by inconsistent results in friendly matches, which eventually led to the departure of French coach Hervé Renard during his second spell in charge of the national team after replacing Roberto Mancini.
Despite the setback on the pitch, Saudi Arabia has continued to invest heavily in football in recent years, spending billions of dollars to strengthen the sport domestically.
The Saudi Pro League has become one of the world’s biggest-spending competitions, attracting international stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema as part of the kingdom’s broader effort to transform its sporting landscape
