Saudi Football Federation President Yasser Al-Misehal Resigns After World Cup Group Stage Exit

The President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al-Misehal, has stepped down following the national team’s disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking responsibility for the Green Falcons’ failure to progress beyond the group stage.

Saudi Arabia finished at the bottom of Group H with just two points, recording draws against Uruguay and Cape Verde before suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Spain. The results ended the country’s World Cup campaign earlier than expected and sparked widespread disappointment among supporters.

In a statement shared on X late Sunday, Al-Misehal accepted full responsibility for the team’s performance and apologized to fans who had hoped for a stronger showing on football’s biggest stage.

“The failure of the national team to qualify for the next round of the World Cup is a result that falls short of all our ambitions, and I bear full responsibility for it. I offer my apologies to everyone who hoped to see our team in a better position,” he wrote.

Explaining his decision to leave office, Al-Misehal said accountability required new leadership to guide Saudi football forward.

“A sense of responsibility requires giving the opportunity to open a new chapter, and I have decided not to continue until the end of my current term,” he added.

Al-Misehal has led the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for the past seven years and played a key role in one of the country’s biggest sporting achievements—securing the successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The tournament is expected to be a major pillar of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to diversify its economy and expand its global influence through sports.

The 2026 tournament marked Saudi Arabia’s third consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance, but expectations were significantly higher following the country’s substantial investment in football over the past few years.

Preparations for the tournament were already overshadowed by instability on the coaching front. A series of disappointing performances in international friendlies earlier this year led to the departure of French coach Hervé Renard, ending his second spell in charge after returning to replace Italian manager Roberto Mancini.

Saudi Arabia has invested nearly $2 billion in football over the last three years, transforming the Saudi Pro League into one of the world’s highest-paying competitions. The league has attracted global superstars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, helping raise the profile of Saudi football internationally.

Despite those investments, the national team’s early World Cup exit has prompted renewed questions about how quickly the country’s ambitious football project can translate into sustained success at the international level.

With Al-Misehal’s resignation, Saudi football enters a new chapter as the federation prepares to appoint new leadership tasked with rebuilding the national team while continuing preparations for hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The focus will now shift toward strengthening the Green Falcons and ensuring they are better equipped to compete on the global stage in future tournaments.