Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard has set a bold target of steering the Green Falcons into the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Renard, who remains a revered name in African football for guiding Zambia and Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2012 and 2015, will be appearing at the global finals for the third time in his coaching career.
He previously led Morocco to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, ending their two-decade absence from the tournament.
The Frenchman returns to the men’s World Cup stage with Saudi Arabia after famously masterminding their historic 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina at Qatar 2022.
The Green Falcons will be making back-to-back appearances, hoping to surpass their best-ever achievement—a Round of 16 finish at the 1994 World Cup.
Renard initially coached Saudi Arabia between July 2019 and March 2023, before leaving to lead the French women’s national team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.
“We can’t wait” – Renard.
He returned to the Saudi post in October 2024 to revive a faltering qualification campaign.
Saudi Arabia has been drawn into Group H for the expanded 48-team 2026 tournament, facing former world champions Spain and Uruguay, and World Cup debutants Cape Verde.
Speaking on the group and his ambitions, Renard was clear and emphatic about the team’s target.
“This is the seventh time Saudi Arabia has participated in a World Cup. Only once have they made it past the first round. So that’s the goal. We absolutely must aim for the round of 32 first. If we achieve that, it will already be a successful World Cup for us,” he said.
Renard added that the global event remains the pinnacle of football.
“The World Cup is a magical event. It’s a passion for all peoples. It’s a huge tournament with fantastic organization. So we can’t wait to be there”.
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