[78417] Sharp criticism in Saudi Arabia regarding the national team squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup

[78417] Sharp criticism in Saudi Arabia regarding the national team squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Storm surrounding the publication of the Saudi national team squad for the 2026 World Cup

As the Saudi national team prepares for the opening of the 2026 World Cup matches, the publication of the official squad has led to a wave of angry reactions from fans and commentators on social media. SaudiNT, which follows the team closely, reported deep feelings of disappointment among the public following the professional decisions made by the technical staff.

One of the central points of criticism is the coach's decision to leave out of the squad prominent players like Zakaria and Saleh, alongside bewilderment regarding the call-up of three right-backs. Fans argue that these are baffling choices, and that priority should have been given to other players over the current squad.

Additionally, according to SaudiNT, sharp criticism was directed at the ability of midfielder Salem Al-Dawsari, with fans describing his recent performances in terms of "standing on the pitch" and passively waiting for the ball, while expressing frustration that other players, who invested great effort in training, were left off the final list.

The JK4 channel and accounts such as ManafKsa511 also disseminated the official squad announcement under the hashtag #معاك_يالأخضر (With you, the Green), but the responses of the users who viewed the posts reflect a break in trust between the fans and the team's professional management ahead of the tournament's opening.