Coordination Error Delays Saudi National Team's Return from Japan

A coordination error has caused a delay in the departure of the private plane carrying the Saudi national team from Tokyo. It was scheduled to return after the match against Japan today, Tuesday, but it will now leave next Thursday instead.

The Saudi national team drew 0-0 against Japan in the eighth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Due to the commitments of Saudi clubs with important matches at the beginning of April, the national team management arranged special bookings through Emirates Airlines for some players. The players from Al-Ittihad and Al-Shabab will return today, Tuesday, while the players from Al-Qadisiyah will return on Wednesday via Emirates and Qatar Airways, and the rest of the delegation will return on Thursday aboard the private plane.

Players departing early:

Al-Ittihad: Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti - Saad Al-Mousa - Hamid Youssef.

Al-Qadisiyah: Turki Al-Amar - Jihad Dhakri - Ahmed Al-Kassar.

Al-Shabab: Musab Al-Juwair.

These arrangements come to ensure the players' readiness for their teams' matches, as Al-Ittihad and Al-Shabab will play their matches on April 1, while Al-Qadisiyah will face Al-Raed in the semi-finals of the King's Cup on April 2.