The mood around the Saudi national team has darkened quickly.
A bruising international break in March – a 4-0 collapse against Egypt followed by a 2-1 defeat to Serbia – has dragged French coach Hervé Renard into the eye of a storm, triggered urgent meetings inside the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and fuelled public calls for his removal.
The results were not just bad. They were alarming. A four-goal defeat to a regional rival, then another loss to European opposition, has raised sharp questions about the team’s readiness for the biggest stage of all: the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Inside the Federation, though, the tone is more cautious than the noise outside.
Federation stands firm – for now
Despite the mounting criticism, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation has reiterated on several occasions that Renard is not about to be sacked. The stated plan remains clear: he stays in charge at least through the national team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup finals.
It is a bold stance in the face of pressure. Saudi Arabia have been drawn into a demanding Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde. Only the top two teams progress automatically, with the eight best third-placed sides from the 12 groups also reaching the knockout rounds. Any hint of instability on the bench could easily spill onto the pitch.
Yet the Federation is not blindly backing its coach. According to Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, the technical committee is in the middle of a thorough review of Renard’s tenure, dissecting the “previous phase” of his work with the team. That evaluation has no fixed deadline but is expected to be wrapped up in the coming days.
The stakes are clear. The same report suggested that the probability of Renard’s departure currently sits at around 30%. Not a dismissal on the horizon, but not a position of absolute safety either. The leadership appears inclined to wait, to weigh the data and the calendar, conscious that the World Cup is drawing closer and that a rushed decision now could create more problems than it solves.
Ghana’s call – and Renard’s answer
While his future in Saudi Arabia is being measured and debated, Renard’s name has been circulating elsewhere.
French outlet L’Équipe reported that the coach had received an offer to take charge of the Ghana national team and that he was keen to accept it. The story added another layer of intrigue to an already tense situation, hinting at a possible exit route just as the pressure in Riyadh intensified.
But the Saudi version of events points in a different direction.
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, citing its own sources, confirmed that Ghanaian officials did indeed reach out – not directly to Renard, but to his agent – to test the waters over a potential appointment. The response was firm. The Frenchman declined, choosing to remain in his current role with Saudi Arabia.
That decision, at least publicly, aligns him with the Federation’s stance: stay the course, ride out the turbulence, and push towards 2026 together.
A project at a crossroads
So the picture is complicated. A coach under heavy fire, a Federation preaching patience, and a World Cup looming on the horizon with Spain, Uruguay and a dangerous Cape Verde side waiting in Group H.
Renard’s record is under the microscope. The technical committee’s review will shape the next move, and the 30% chance of departure reported in Saudi media hangs over every training session, every friendly, every tactical tweak.
For now, Saudi Arabia have chosen continuity over chaos. The question is simple and unforgiving: will that loyalty be rewarded on the world stage, or will the March setbacks prove to be the warning they ignored?
