French coach Herve Renard has confirmed he has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Saudi Arabia national football team, less than two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking to AFP on Friday, the 57 year old acknowledged the decision, reflecting on his achievements with the team. Renard, who returned for a second spell in late 2024, previously led Saudi Arabia at the last World Cup in Qatar, where they famously defeated eventual champions Argentina national football team during the group stage.
“That is football. Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me,” Renard said, expressing pride in his record. He also noted that he remains the only coach to have guided the team through both qualification and the tournament itself, a feat he achieved in 2022.
Renard’s coaching career includes notable success in Africa, where he won the Africa Cup of Nations with both Zambia and Ivory Coast. He also had a stint with the France women’s national team, reaching the quarter finals of both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.
He initially coached Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2023 before being replaced by Roberto Mancini. Following Mancini’s departure after a challenging spell, Renard was brought back to steady the team ahead of the World Cup.
Reports indicate that Georgios Donis is being considered as his replacement, with ongoing discussions between the Saudi football federation and his current club, Al Khaleej.
Saudi Arabia are set to compete in a challenging Group H at the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.
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