[86264] Storm on social media following the Saudi national team's draw against Uruguay in the 2026 World Cup

Storm in the Saudi national team: Sharp criticism following the draw against Uruguay

Following a dramatic opening match in the 2026 World Cup that ended in a 1-1 draw against the Uruguayan national team, as reported by bt3, social media in Saudi Arabia erupted with sharp criticism regarding the management of the game and the team's lineup. While goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais received wall-to-wall praise as a "legendary goalkeeper" who "saved the team" (according to ahmed_alba42228), other players, primarily captain Salem Al-Dawsari, faced an unprecedented attack.

JstMsh bluntly called for Al-Dawsari to "return to Riyadh without his suitcase," while other users, such as alharthi_26, wondered why coach Donis continues to keep Al-Dawsari on the field for 90 minutes despite a "zero level" of performance, in their opinion. It was claimed that this is a matter of "nepotism" or "politeness" toward certain players, which harms the team's chances of advancing to the next stages.

On the other hand, a controversy developed regarding the nature of the criticism. Some users claimed that the attack on Al-Dawsari stems from "toxic sportsmanship" and his status as an Al-Hilal player, and that it is personal "bullying" rather than professional (KhaleadBader). Supporters of Al-Dawsari emphasized that global stars like Salah and De Bruyne are also substituted, but they turned the issue into an arena for rivalries between local league clubs.

Meanwhile, reactions were also recorded regarding events surrounding the match. SaudiNews50 praised Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Ambassador to the US, for her humble and grassroots behavior among the crowd. At the same time, it was reported that coach Hervé Renard was officially appointed to the Tunisian national team (football_li5), a move that sparked concerns among some Saudi fans regarding potential "revenge" on the part of the former coach should the teams meet.