Saudi Arabia Opens World Cup Against Uruguay Under New Coach Donis

M. in Miami Gardens, Florida. The match marks the first competitive test for the team under new head coach Georgios Donis.

Saudi Arabia dismissed coach Hervé Renard in April after losses of 4-0 to Egypt and 2-1 to Serbia in early March friendlies. Renard confirmed his dismissal on April 17, ending a second tenure that had been expected to run through 2027. Less than a week later, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation appointed Georgios Donis as head coach.

Donis, 56, previously managed Al-Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League and had overseen four clubs across five seasons in that league before taking the national team job. Twenty-five of Saudi Arabia’s 26-man World Cup roster play in the Saudi Pro League. “Everything happened so fast.

When we arrived and took over, this advantage was in place that I was familiar with the players,” Donis said. ” Renard had returned to Saudi Arabia in 2024 after leaving the post in 2023 to coach the France women’s national team. During his first stint, he guided Saudi Arabia to a 2-1 victory over Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia went 1-1-1 in its final three World Cup warm-up matches in the United States, defeating Puerto Rico 3-0, drawing Senegal 0-0, and losing 2-1 to Ecuador. The team’s other group opponents are Spain and Cape Verde. “[Uruguay] are a very strong team.

Their coach is good, their plan is very specific, and we are asked to respond,” Donis said. “I think our group is one of the toughest of this World Cup. We will see how we will behave on the field. This is where stability and intellect is of essence as well as determination.

” “Regardless of what will happen during this tournament, I’m not looking at the tree. I’m looking at the forest. I'm building a team built on successes,” Donis said.