Saudi camp sharpens World Cup focus

Saudi Arabia stepped up its FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations in Austin, Texas, with head coach Giorgos Donis using the final phase of the Green Falcons’ camp to refine tactical shape, set-piece routines and squad rhythm before a demanding Group H campaign.

The squad trained on Tuesday evening under Donis’s supervision, beginning with warm-up work before moving into possession drills, tactical exercises and set-piece practice. The session formed part of the fourth and final stage of the team’s preparation programme, with another training session scheduled for Wednesday as the countdown to the tournament gathers pace.

The Austin camp follows an earlier phase in New York and comes after the squad’s departure from Riyadh for the United States. Saudi Arabia have based part of their preparations at Austin FC’s facilities, giving the coaching staff access to high-quality training infrastructure before the team shifts fully into tournament mode.

Donis, appointed in April on a contract running until July 2027, has had limited time to impose his ideas after succeeding Hervé Renard. The change came less than two months before the World Cup, placing added emphasis on training-ground clarity, defensive organisation and attacking transitions. The Greek coach has experience across European and West Asian football, including spells with AEK Athens, PAOK and clubs in Saudi Arabia, but the World Cup will be among the most testing assignments of his managerial career.

Saudi Arabia’s preparations have been shaped by both ambition and uncertainty. The team enters the tournament with memories of its 2-1 victory over Argentina in Qatar in 2022 still prominent, but expectations are more cautious this time. Qualification was hard-earned, and the squad faces one of the more challenging group-stage assignments, with Uruguay, Spain and Cape Verde awaiting.

The Green Falcons open against Uruguay in Miami on June 15, followed by Spain in Atlanta on June 21 and Cape Verde in Houston on June 27. The expanded 48-team format offers more routes into the knockout stage, with the top two in each group and the best third-placed sides advancing, but Saudi Arabia will need points quickly to avoid being placed under pressure before the final group match.

Captain Salem Al-Dawsari remains central to Saudi Arabia’s attacking identity. His experience, movement from wide areas and ability to deliver decisive moments give the team a proven leader in high-pressure fixtures. The Al Hilal forward, scorer of the winning goal against Argentina in 2022, is expected to carry much of the creative burden alongside Saleh Al-Shehri and other attacking options drawn largely from the Saudi Pro League.

The squad also includes players who have gained exposure abroad, most notably Saud Abdulhamid, whose arrival at camp was delayed after the theft of his passport during a stop in Amsterdam. His eventual link-up with the squad strengthened Donis’s defensive options, particularly on the right flank, where pace and recovery running will be crucial against Uruguay and Spain.

Saudi Arabia’s domestic football transformation has added another layer to the national team debate. The Saudi Pro League’s investment drive has raised the competition’s global profile and attracted high-profile foreign players, but it has also increased scrutiny over playing time for home-grown talent. For Donis, the challenge is to extract cohesion from a squad whose core is experienced but operating in a league environment that has changed rapidly.

Set-piece work in Austin is likely to be especially significant. Saudi Arabia will face physically strong opponents and technically superior sides in the group stage, making dead-ball situations a potential route to goals and a defensive risk. The emphasis on possession drills also suggests Donis is seeking more control in midfield rather than relying solely on counter-attacking bursts.

The team’s final build-up includes friendly matches designed to test structure and fitness before the competitive schedule begins. These fixtures will give Donis a chance to assess partnerships across defence and midfield, manage workloads, and decide whether to adopt a compact approach against elite opponents or press higher in selected phases.