Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia head coach Hervé Renard expressed full confidence in his team’s ability to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup, telling his players: “We will qualify together.”
Speaking on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s AFC playoff opener against Indonesia at Alinma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Renard called for a packed house and total focus as the Green Falcons begin their decisive qualification run.
“The press room is full today, we want the stadium full tomorrow too,” Renard said.
“We are on the right path technically, and I told my players that we will reach the World Cup together. Tomorrow will be a different kind of game, and I’m sure we’ll give more than 100 percent to achieve qualification.”
Saudi Arabia, who have qualified for six previous World Cups, will be looking to make it seven as they host Indonesia in front of an expected 60,000 fans.
“We know how important it is for the Saudi national team to be at the World Cup,” Renard said. “We qualified here in 2018 and again in 2022, now we must show the same determination to do it again.”
Addressing concerns about the team’s defensive form, Renard admitted that improvement has been a gradual process.
“When I arrived a year ago, our target was direct qualification, but that didn’t happen because we needed to grow in several areas. Since the Gulf Cup, we’ve made clear progress, now we must prove it on the field.”
The French coach confirmed that around half of the squad has changed since Saudi Arabia last met Indonesia.
“We have evolved technically, and we’ll see tomorrow whether we’ve developed enough,” he added.
When asked by an Indonesian journalist about the visitors’ absentees, including three key players from their previous meeting, Renard replied: “We’re focused on ourselves and on what we need to do this week. Let’s play the match first — then we’ll talk again afterward.”
Saudi defender Nawaf Boushal echoed his coach’s optimism: “We’re ready for the match. With our fans behind us, we want to take all three points.”
