French coach Hervé Renard revealed his decisive stance on the return of goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais to the Saudi Arabian national football team in the upcoming phase.

Renard's statements came during the press conference ahead of the Saudi national football team's match against Egypt, as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

The coach explained that his selections are primarily based on the player's level and regular participation with their club, noting his confidence in goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi as the first choice for the current period.

He added that Al-Owais's return is not impossible, but it is conditional on him being the main goalkeeper for his team, which makes calling him up currently a difficult matter.

He pointed out that Al-Owais had previously been included despite his limited participation with the Saudi club Al-Hilal, but the current situation is different given the approach of major events.

Renard emphasized that the current phase requires relying on fully prepared elements, especially with the upcoming global tournament approaching.

The Saudi national team will play two friendly matches against Egypt and Serbia as part of their preparation program for the upcoming tournament.

These matches serve as a final opportunity to assess the players before facing the bigger challenge next summer.