Saudi Arabia Announces Preliminary 30-Man FIFA World Cup 2026 Squad

Saudi national team head coach Georgios Donis named a preliminary 30-man squad on May 25 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The final 26-player roster was scheduled for confirmation by June 2. The Saudi Green Falcons, drawn into Group A alongside the host United States, Mexico, and Uruguay, departed Riyadh for a training camp in New York City, with a pre-tournament friendly against Ecuador scheduled for May 30 in Harrison, New Jersey. Saudi Arabia is participating in its fourth consecutive World Cup. For Saudi Arabia, the 2026 World Cup is both a sporting event and a diplomatic opportunity — MBS has specifically prioritized football and the 2034 World Cup hosting rights as part of Saudi Arabia's reoriented sports investment strategy after the PIF ended its LIV Golf funding commitment.