French coach Hervé Renard expressed his immense happiness after the Saudi national team officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup, affirming that this achievement holds significant human and personal meanings for him.

Renard explained in the press conference following the match against Iraq that this game was the most important in his coaching career, noting that his late mother told him before her passing in January that she might not witness the World Cup, but she wished to see him there representing the Saudi team.

The French coach added that the Saudi fans played a crucial role in this historic qualification, praising the large turnout in the stands of Jeddah Stadium, considering that the support of the fans was a decisive factor in achieving victory and qualification.

He pointed out that the star of the match, Salem Al-Dawsari, delivered an outstanding performance, but he emphasized at the same time that the credit for the qualification goes to all the players who demonstrated a high fighting spirit from the beginning of the qualifiers until the decisive match.

Renard confirmed that this achievement is a special dedication to Yasser Al-Mas'al, the president of the Saudi Football Federation, in appreciation of his continuous support for the coaching staff and players, and he also dedicated it to player Fahd Al-Muwallad, wishing him a speedy recovery and a quick return to the fields.

The coach concluded his remarks by indicating that his family has been his greatest support throughout his journey with the national team, explaining that his wife attended the match from the stands while his children followed the game from afar, emphasizing that their constant moral support gives him strength at every training juncture.