Less than two months out from the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Saudi Arabia have announced that they have parted ways with coach Herve Renard, with Georgios Donis assuming the Green Falcons helm. Donis has signed a deal which runs through July 2027.
Frenchman Renard oversaw one of the tournament’s most dramatic upsets as Saudi Arabia rolled eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in their opening fixture at Qatar 2022. He was in his second spell with the team, having returned in late 2024 following an initial stint from 2019-23.
With Renard having overseen the latter stages of Saudi Arabia’s World Cup qualification, results have dipped over the past six months. Notably that saw a near full-strength side failing to reach the final of last year’s FIFA Arab Cup™, with a disappointing 4-0 loss at home against Egypt on 27 March being followed four days later by a 2-1 defeat against Serbia.
The nation’s hopes now rest on the shoulders of 56-year-old former Greece international Donis, a man with vast coaching experience in the country. Most recently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al Khaleej, he has also helmed local sides Al Hilal, Al Fateh and Al Wehda in what is approaching a decade of involvement in Saudi football.
That affords the German-born tactician an intimate knowledge of a player pool that will be predominantly drawn from the local league, with his first match in charge set to be a World Cup tune-up against Ecuador in New Jersey on 30 May.
Saudi Arabia will then face Cabo Verde, Spain and Uruguay in Group H of the global showpiece.
