Overview
- Yasser Al-Misehal, who led the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for seven years and held a FIFA Council seat, announced his resignation and apology after the national team failed to advance from Group H.
- Saudi Arabia finished bottom of Group H with two points after draws with Uruguay and Cape Verde and a loss to Spain, producing an early tournament exit that sparked intense domestic criticism.
- Preparations were disrupted when SAFF replaced coach Hervé Renard with Georgios Donis less than two months before the tournament, a decision critics link to the team’s poor results.
- The departure raises questions about the federation’s oversight of a multi-billion-dollar push involving the Public Investment Fund and high-profile signings to raise the Saudi Pro League’s profile.
- Al-Misehal’s exit creates an immediate leadership vacancy and could prompt closer scrutiny of governance, accountability and planning as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 World Cup.