Yasser Al Misehal, the esteemed President of the Saudi Football Federation, has officially announced his resignation. This significant decision comes in the wake of the Saudi national team’s early and disappointing elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
Saudi Arabia concluded their journey in Group H of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the bottom of the table, accumulating a mere two points. Their campaign saw them suffer a defeat against Spain, alongside drawing matches against both Cape Verde and Uruguay. These results fell far short of expectations and garnered considerable criticism.
The subpar performance and the national team’s failure to advance deeply disappointed Saudi football fans across the region. In response to the widespread dissatisfaction, Yasser Al Misehal took to social media to address the situation directly. He explicitly stated that the national team had ‘failed to advance to the next round of the FIFA World Cup with the worst results and our lack of ambition.’
In his public apology, Al Misehal emphasized his full acceptance of responsibility for the outcome. He expressed his regrets to ‘everyone who hopes to see our team in a good position.’ Following this statement, the 52-year-old further confirmed his decision to step down from his leadership role, refusing to continue leading the federation until the conclusion of his term.
Al Misehal had presided over the Saudi Football Federation for an impressive seven years. During his tenure, he was credited with contributing to several successes in regional football competitions. Additionally, he played a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, highlighting a period of significant development for the sport in the kingdom.
