Saudi Football Federation Denies Renard Dismissal Amid Arab Cup Exit
Coach Hervé Renard's future with the national team confirmed despite recent tournament loss and public criticism.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) today, Wednesday, denied any intention to dismiss head coach Hervé Renard.
Al-Riyadh newspaper had earlier reported SAFF’s plan to remove Renard. This report surfaced before the national team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to begin next summer.
Private sources, cited by the newspaper, indicated a directive from the SAFF board. This directive reportedly aimed to relieve Renard from his coaching duties and find a replacement before the 2026 World Cup finals preparations.
SAFF, however, promptly sent a clarification to the newspaper. The federation explicitly denied the information published.
The federation’s statement to Al-Riyadh, dated Tuesday, July 12, 2025, read: “Dear Al-Riyadh newspaper… Regarding what was published in your issue today, Tuesday, 12-7-2025, we confirm that the published news is incorrect. We would have been pleased if you had contacted us for official information. Thank you for your interest. (Media and Institutional Communication Department of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation).” Visit SAFF for official updates.
Coach Renard recently failed to lead the Saudi national team to end a long title drought. The team lost in the Arab Cup semi-finals against Jordan. They will play the third-place match against the UAE tomorrow, Thursday.
Renard himself stated today, Wednesday, that he would not object to leaving his position if officials decided to make a change. He posed a question during a press conference: “Why has the Saudi national team not won any title since 2003?”
Renard, currently in his second tenure with Saudi Arabia, faces intense criticism. Both media outlets and fans have voiced their discontent. Yasser Al-Qahtani, a former striker for Al-Hilal and the Saudi national team, specifically called for the SAFF’s resignation and the appointment of a new coach.
Saudi Arabia will compete in Group H at the upcoming World Cup. Their opponents include Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.
