Yasser Al Misehal, the president of the Saudi Football Federation, expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of the Saudi national team in the Asia qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The team recently faced a setback in the fourth round of qualifiers, ending their match against Bahrain in a goalless draw. This result brings their total points to five, tying them with Australia and Bahrain, while Japan leads the group with ten points. Al Misehal stated that a meeting will be held to address the team’s performance and make necessary corrections.
During a press conference, Al Misehal apologized to the fans for the team’s underwhelming performance and emphasized that obtaining only two points from three home matches is unacceptable. He mentioned that the technical director and coach are analyzing each match, and they acknowledge the need for improvement. Despite a better performance against Japan, the team failed to capitalize on opportunities, including missing a penalty, which Al Misehal deemed unacceptable. He took full responsibility as the federation president and promised to address the situation.
Al Misehal expressed understanding for the frustration felt by fans and emphasized the importance of presenting a better image in future matches. With Japan leading the group and tough away matches ahead, the national team will need to focus on improving their performance. Al Misehal mentioned plans to meet with the technical staff and board members to assess the team’s needs and make necessary adjustments before the next set of qualifiers in November.
When asked about potential changes within the team, Al Misehal stated that it is too early to evaluate the situation and that decisions will be made after discussions with the technical staff. He emphasized the need for support from all elements of the system and indicated that internal matters would be addressed internally. Al Misehal concluded by urging patience and understanding from fans as they work towards improving the team’s performance in future matches.
In conclusion, Yasser Al Misehal’s comments reflect the disappointment within the Saudi Football Federation regarding the national team’s performance in the Asia qualifiers. The team’s recent results have fallen short of expectations, leading to internal discussions on how to improve moving forward. With tough matches ahead and a need for a better showing in future games, the federation is focused on making necessary corrections and supporting the team to achieve better results. Fans are encouraged to remain patient as the federation works towards enhancing the national team’s performance in upcoming qualifiers.
