Renard Sacked by Saudi Arabia Weeks to 2026 World Cup Kick-Off
French coach Herve Renard has been dismissed as head coach of the Saudi Arabian national team, less than two months before the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Renard confirmed his removal in a telephone interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday, ending his second stint in charge of the Green Falcons.
“That’s football… Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me,” Renard told AFP. “And there’s only one coach who has led them through both the qualifiers and the World Cup; that’s me, in 2022. At least there will be that sense of pride.”
The 57-year-old tactician, renowned as the only manager to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries—Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015—first managed Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2023. During that period, he guided the team to qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they secured a historic group-stage victory over eventual champions Argentina.
Renard departed the role after that tournament and was succeeded by Italian Roberto Mancini. He subsequently took charge of the French women’s national team, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The Saudi football federation recalled Renard in late 2024 to replace Mancini, whose 14-month tenure was widely described as underwhelming. However, the Frenchman’s return has now been cut short with the global showpiece in the United States, Canada, and Mexico fast approaching.
AFP reports that talks are already underway with Greek coach Georgios Donis, who has been managing Saudi Pro League club Al Khaleej since 2024. A source close to the negotiations confirmed ongoing discussions between the Saudi federation and the club.
Saudi Arabia have been drawn in Group H for the 2026 World Cup, alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. The tournament is scheduled to commence on June 11, 2026.
The coaching change adds a layer of uncertainty to Saudi preparations, though the federation appears intent on securing Donis’s release swiftly to allow for a transitional camp before the team departs for North America.
Renard leaves with a legacy of having guided the Saudi side through two separate qualifying campaigns and remains the only coach to have overseen the team at a World Cup finals after navigating the full qualification route.