French coach Hervé Renard held an extensive meeting with the Saudi national team players during the current training camp in Jeddah, to discuss the preparations for the Arab Cup, which will be hosted in Doha from December 1 to 18.

During the meeting, Renard explained the comprehensive preparation plan for the national team, noting that the Arab Cup will be an important milestone in the preparation for the 2026 World Cup, with a focus on enhancing the team's physical and tactical performance.

The French coach has chosen to hold two friendly matches against Ivory Coast and Algeria on November 14 and 18, to give the players experience in facing physically and tactically strong teams, with the aim of raising their readiness level before the official tournament.

The Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper stated that facing African teams represents an opportunity to test gameplay strategies and implement tactical passes, in addition to providing players with a chance to develop team cohesion under the pressure of international matches.

Renard assured the players that the main goal of participating in the Arab Cup is not just to take part, but to compete for the title, as the tournament will contribute to building a cohesive team capable of delivering the best performance in the upcoming World Cup.

The report concluded by noting that this strategy allows the team to make the most of the upcoming preparation matches and international break periods, ensuring that the players are physically and technically ready before participating in the 2026 World Cup.