The Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced the departure of French coach Hervé Renard from leading the national team, just about two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, in a surprising decision that sparked widespread controversy.

Renard concluded his tenure with the "Green" team after leading them in 68 matches, achieving 30 victories, 16 draws, and 22 losses, scoring 81 goals and conceding 63 goals.

The French coach recorded notable figures, becoming the most frequent leader of the Saudi national team, as well as the one with the most losses and draws, in addition to conceding the most goals in the history of "Al-Akhdar".

The timing of the dismissal raised significant questions, especially with the World Cup approaching, as some believe that the decision might put the new coach under considerable pressure without sufficient time for preparation.

The Saudi Football Federation's management is considering several names to succeed Renard, including Pericles Chamusca, Georgios Donis, and Pedro Emanuel.

Pedro Emanuel's agent revealed that coaching the national team in the World Cup is an option on the table, while confirming that the current coach is focused on his work with Al-Fayha until the end of the season.

The federation is moving to finalize the coach's file within a few days amid increasing pressure, while the main question remains: Can the replacement succeed in saving the team in such a short time?