Six Years Without Gold.. Al-Meshaal's Federation Between Title Failures and the World Cup Dream
The Saudi national team's exit against Jordan in the semifinals of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 revealed the continued absence of titles during Yasser Al-Meshaal's tenure, who has been heading the Saudi Football Federation for 6 years and 5 months.
The Green Team lost the semifinal match 1-0, losing the chance to compete for the title, and will settle for playing the third-place match against the UAE team.
Yasser Al-Meshaal assumed the presidency of the Saudi Football Federation on June 29, 2019, following the endorsement of the General Assembly. His mandate was subsequently renewed for a second term, which will end in 2027.
During both periods, the Saudi national team participated in multiple regional, continental, and international tournaments, but did not succeed in winning any official championship despite numerous attempts.
The most notable achievement of the Green team during Al-Meshal's tenure is qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, followed by reaching the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A few months into his first term, the national team reached the final of the 2019 Gulf Cup in Qatar but lost to Bahrain, then exited the 2021 Arab Cup in the group stage with a disappointing performance.
The Green Falcons made history at the Qatar World Cup by defeating Argentina, before being eliminated in the group stage, followed by another Gulf failure in the Iraq 2023 edition.
In the 2024 Asian Cup, the team was eliminated by South Korea in a penalty shootout, amid significant controversy due to coach Mancini's withdrawal, before he was dismissed and Renard returned.
Despite qualifying for the 2026 World Cup through the playoffs, the Green Falcons failed to capitalize on the current Arab Cup as an opportunity to win, leading to continued criticism directed at the Saudi Football Federation and the coaching staff.
The Green Team lost the semifinal match 1-0, losing the chance to compete for the title, and will settle for playing the third-place match against the UAE team.
Yasser Al-Meshaal assumed the presidency of the Saudi Football Federation on June 29, 2019, following the endorsement of the General Assembly. His mandate was subsequently renewed for a second term, which will end in 2027.
During both periods, the Saudi national team participated in multiple regional, continental, and international tournaments, but did not succeed in winning any official championship despite numerous attempts.
The most notable achievement of the Green team during Al-Meshal's tenure is qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, followed by reaching the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A few months into his first term, the national team reached the final of the 2019 Gulf Cup in Qatar but lost to Bahrain, then exited the 2021 Arab Cup in the group stage with a disappointing performance.
The Green Falcons made history at the Qatar World Cup by defeating Argentina, before being eliminated in the group stage, followed by another Gulf failure in the Iraq 2023 edition.
In the 2024 Asian Cup, the team was eliminated by South Korea in a penalty shootout, amid significant controversy due to coach Mancini's withdrawal, before he was dismissed and Renard returned.
Despite qualifying for the 2026 World Cup through the playoffs, the Green Falcons failed to capitalize on the current Arab Cup as an opportunity to win, leading to continued criticism directed at the Saudi Football Federation and the coaching staff.
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