Former Saudi star Sami Al-Jaber revealed behind-the-scenes details of an important event that took place offstage during the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony. He disclosed a private meeting between Hervé Renard, the coach of the Saudi national team, and Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić, which included discussions about arranging a high-level friendly match ahead of the tournament.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the grand event held at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, attended by U.S. President Donald Trump and several football icons, amid a festive atmosphere surrounding the draw for the first edition featuring 48 teams, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Saudi national team joined one of the strongest groups, where they will face the teams of Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. Meanwhile, the Croatian national team was placed alongside England, Panama, and Ghana in a group that is no less challenging.

Sami Al-Jaber revealed on MBC channel that Renard took advantage of his presence in Washington to hold a meeting with Dalic to discuss the possibility of arranging a friendly match between the Green Team and Croatia as part of the World Cup preparation program. He confirmed that the French coach aims to test his players against teams with a level close to that of Spain and Uruguay.

Al-Jaber pointed out that the Croatian national team is an ideal option for Renard, given the quality of its players and the compatibility of its playing style with the styles of the teams that Al-Akhdar will face in the group stage, making the potential match-up highly valuable from a technical perspective.

Al-Jaber also confirmed that Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, was a key reason for Renard's attendance at the draw ceremony, given his previous experience in the last two World Cup editions, which prompted the Saudi Football Federation to accept the invitation without hesitation.

The Saudi sports community is eagerly awaiting updates regarding the preparation program, especially with Renard's desire to undertake strong challenges before heading to the world's biggest football tournament in the summer of 2026.