In a surprising move before the anticipated match, French coach Hervé Renard, the head coach of the Saudi national team, decided to exclude defender Jihad Dhakri from the current training camp roster for the Green.

This decision came after a direct recommendation from the medical staff of the national team, as the doctors indicated the necessity of subjecting Dhakri to a special treatment and rehabilitation program to ensure his complete recovery from the injury he sustained.

The player had suffered a muscle tear in the hamstring while participating in his team's match against Al-Ittihad in the King's Cup final held last Friday.

Dhakri's injury coincides with the Saudi national team's preparations to face their Bahraini counterpart in a match that will bring the two teams together next Thursday, as part of the ninth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The coaching staff of the Green hopes to compensate for the absence of the young defender by preparing a suitable replacement, especially since the match holds great importance in the race for qualification to the upcoming World Cup finals.