Notable Absences in the Saudi National Team Roster for the 2026 World Cup

The head coach of the Saudi national team, Greek Georgios Donis, revealed the "Green Falcons" squad for the training camp in the United States, in preparation for participating in the 2026 World Cup, amidst numerous surprises that captured the fans' attention.

The coaching staff relied on a blend of experienced players and young talents, in a move aimed at preparing a team capable of competing in the upcoming phase before the World Cup kicks off.

The list included 30 players, featuring the continued presence of several key players, led by Salem Al-Dawsari, Mohammed Kanoo, and Hassan Tambakti, in addition to giving opportunities to new talents.

Alaa Al-Hajji, a Neom player, made his first appearance in the Saudi national team jersey after delivering strong performances last season, successfully catching the attention of the coaching staff.

On the other hand, prominent names were absent from the list, most notably Salman Al-Faraj, despite his recent return to the national team in the past period. Additionally, Abdulrahman Gharib and Sultan Al-Ghannam from Al-Nassr were excluded.

The list also saw the absence of the Al-Ittihad quartet: Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, and Marwan Al-Sahafi, along with the exclusion of Abdullah Radif and Murad Hawsawi, in addition to Al-Ahli's goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanabi.

In his recent statements, Donis emphasized that the current phase focuses on building a cohesive team with a strong character on the field, capable of facing major teams in the World Cup.

The Saudi national team is scheduled to hold its training camp in the United States from May 25 to June 10, as part of the final phase of their World Cup preparation program.