Saudi football chief quits after World Cup group-stage exit
Yasser al-Misehal said he would step down after Saudi Arabia finished last in its 2026 World Cup group with two points.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Yasser al-Misehal has said he will resign as president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation after the national team failed to get out of its group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decision puts new pressure on Saudi football leadership as the country prepares to host the tournament in 2034.
Al Jazeera and AFP reported that Saudi Arabia finished last in Group H with two points. The team drew 1-1 with Uruguay, played out a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde and lost 4-0 to Spain, which the report described as a title favourite.
In a post on X late Sunday, al-Misehal said the team’s failure to advance did not meet the country’s expectations. He said he accepted full responsibility, apologized to supporters who wanted a stronger showing and would not remain in the job until the end of his term.
Al-Misehal had led the federation for seven years, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. During his tenure, Saudi Arabia secured the right to host the 2034 World Cup, an event tied to the kingdom’s wider plan to reduce its dependence on oil revenue.
The 2026 tournament was Saudi Arabia’s third straight World Cup appearance, according to the report. The three-time Asian champions have not reached the knockout rounds since 1994, when they made the round of 16.
Saudi Arabia was one of seven Asian teams eliminated during the group stage, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. Japan and Australia were the only Asian teams to move on to the round of 32.
The exit followed coaching turmoil before the tournament. Al Jazeera and AFP reported that a run of poor friendly results in March led to the dismissal of French coach Herve Renard in April, ending his second stint in charge after he had returned to replace Italian coach Roberto Mancini.
The federation change also comes during a period of heavy Saudi spending on football. According to Al Jazeera and AFP, the country has invested nearly $2bn in the sport over the past three years, including moves that brought Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema to the Saudi Pro League.
Those signings helped raise the profile of the domestic league, which the report described as one of the world’s most lucrative competitions. Al-Misehal’s resignation leaves the federation to choose new leadership while Saudi Arabia faces questions over how to improve the national team before it hosts the World Cup in eight years.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.