The mood inside the Saudi Arabian Football Federation this week has been tense, bordering on hostile. The March international break was supposed to offer clarity and cohesion. Instead, it delivered a crisis.
A 4-0 hammering by Egypt, followed by a 2-1 defeat to Serbia, has left the Green Falcons bruised and their French coach, Hervé Renard, squarely in the crosshairs. The scorelines were not just defeats; they were warnings, and they have ignited a storm of criticism and calls for change at the top.
Yet for now, the Federation is refusing to blink.
Federation holds its line
Despite the noise around Renard, officials inside the Saudi Arabian Football Federation have repeated one key message: there is no current intention to dismiss him before the 2026 World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
That stance has been restated on several occasions, even as the pressure outside the walls of the Federation’s headquarters has grown louder. With the World Cup looming and the calendar already packed, the leadership appears determined to avoid a knee-jerk reaction.
The context matters. Saudi Arabia are heading into a World Cup that will test every ounce of their resilience. Drawn in Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde, the Green Falcons face a brutal path. Only the top two sides progress automatically, with the eight best third-placed teams from the 12 groups also reaching the knockouts. Every detail in the build-up counts. Every decision around the coach becomes magnified.
Renard under review
Behind the public statements of support, though, there is a colder process underway.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, the technical management at the Federation is in the middle of a full review of Renard’s tenure. This is not a routine check-up. It is a comprehensive evaluation of the entire previous phase, covering performances, results and the trajectory of the team as the World Cup approaches.
The assessment does not yet have a fixed deadline, but it is expected to be concluded in the coming days. Inside those meetings, the debate is sharp. Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reports that the likelihood of Renard’s departure currently sits at around 30%. Not a majority, but not negligible either.
For now, the prevailing mood leans toward patience. Officials are inclined to wait, to measure, to avoid tearing up the plan so close to a global tournament. The schedule is tight. The World Cup is almost upon them. A rushed appointment could create more problems than it solves.
Still, that 30% hangs over Renard like a shadow.
Ghana come calling – and get rejected
The uncertainty around his future has not gone unnoticed beyond Saudi borders.
French outlet L’Équipe previously revealed that Renard had received an offer to take charge of the Ghana national team. According to their reporting, the Frenchman showed strong interest in that proposal. For a coach of his profile, with a history of success in international football, Ghana represented a serious, attractive project.
Yet the story did not end there.
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, citing its own sources, has since reported that Ghanaian officials did indeed contact Renard’s agent to explore the possibility of appointing him. The response was clear: no. Renard, despite the criticism and the speculation, chose to stay put and continue in his role with Saudi Arabia.
It was a significant decision. He turned down a fresh start to stay in the eye of the storm.
A fragile truce before a brutal test
So the situation stands delicately poised. Renard remains in charge. The Federation stands publicly behind him. The review continues in the background. The probability of change hovers, but does not dominate.
What is not in doubt is the scale of the challenge ahead. Spain bring technical superiority and tournament know-how. Uruguay arrive with their trademark edge and pedigree. Cape Verde, often underestimated, offer organisation and bite. There will be no easy points in Group H.
The recent 4-0 and 2-1 defeats have stripped away any illusions. Saudi Arabia cannot drift into this World Cup. They need clarity, conviction and a coach fully aligned with the Federation’s vision.
Renard has made his choice to stay. The Federation, for now, has made its choice to back him.
The real verdict will come on the world’s biggest stage.
