Striking Gold: 5 Saudis out to seize chance at CONCACAF showpiece | OneFootball

As Al Hilal kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Spanish giants Real Madrid in Miami on Wednesday, it’s worth remembering they aren’t the only Saudi side in North America this summer.

The Saudi Arabian national team is also in action, competing on invite at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the continent’s version of the AFC Asian Cup.

Coming on the back of the conclusion of the Third Round of Asian Qualifiers, and with Al Hilal players unavailable because of Club World Cup commitments, the tournament presents a great opportunity for Herve Renard to experiment somewhat ahead of the crunch Fourth Round in October.

The Frenchman's side have already gotten off to a golden start, defeating Haiti in their Group D opener in San Diego and making history in the process.

So, ahead of Thursday’s second group game against 2026 FIFA World Cup hosts United States, here are five national-team stars to keep an eye on as they press their case for those crucial matches later this year.

--------

Turki Al Ammar (Al Qadsiah)

Coming off the back of his best season as a professional, the time is now for Al Ammar to cement his spot in the Green Falcons line-up.

The wideman, who can play on either side of the attack, has long been regarded as a star of the future since winning the MVP award at the AFC Under-19 Championships in 2018, which also saw him later celebrated as AFC Young Player of the Year.

Yet it hasn’t quite clicked for Al Ammar at club level since – until now. Since making the move to Al Qadsiah in 2023, the attacking midfielder’s star has been very much on the rise.

And, with four goals and six assists in the recently concluded Roshn Saudi League to help new boys Al Qadsiah finish fourth, Al Ammar comes into the tournament in form and ready to show what he can do when given the chance.

--------

Mukhtar Ali (Al Ettifaq)

It’s been a long journey so far for Ali, who was raised in London and first came to prominence as a member of the famed Chelsea academy alongside the likes of Mason Mount, Dominic Solanke, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham.

Returning to Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr in 2019, Ali was in and out of the Riyadh side across the past six seasons. However, he has found stability at Al Ettifaq since the shrewd appointment of compatriot Saad Al Shehri, a manager he knows well from his time with the U23 national team.

A central midfielder with an abundance of talent, at 27 years of age, Ali is right in his peak. Following an impressive six months with Al Ettifaq as the Dammam club rose to a seventh-placed finish, he has the experience and maturity to excel at this level.

--------

Saleh Al Shehri (Al Ittihad)

The Al Ittihad striker is no stranger to the national team set-up, but after so many years, they are still chasing a regular and reliable goalscorer; during the Third Round of Asian Qualifiers, Saudi netted seven times in 10 games.

Al Shehri proved what he could do in the 2024-25 RSL when deputising for the injured Karim Benzema, scoring four goals, including in back-to-back games in November when the eventual champions needed someone to stand up in the Frenchman’s absence.

Having scored the winner from the spot against Haiti, if Al Shehri can make a habit of finding the back of the net, he could lock down the starting striker position - and be the answer to Saudi Arabia’s goalscoring woes.

--------

Ziyad Al Johani (Al Ahli)

After breaking through into the Al Ahli side in 2023-24 season, Al Johani made himself a first-team regular in the campaign just completed by dint of a string of impressive performances in midfield.

While he may be slight of frame, Al Johani isn’t afraid to throw his weight around and, in the 2024-25 RSL, he was ranked fourth at Al Ahli for tackles - ahead of players such as Franck Kessie and Merih Demiral. What’s more, he also sat fourth for passes, even ahead of Riyad Mahrez.

Meanwhile, Al Johani was outstanding for Al Ahli in the final rounds of the AFC Champions League Elite as the club claimed their first piece of continental silverware – and thus, their place in history.

--------

Ali Al Hassan (Al Nassr)

The 28-year-old was impressive against Haiti having been given the opportunity in midfield following an eye-catching latter season for Al Nassr en route to third in the RSL.

Crucial goals against Riyadh rivals Al Hilal, providing the platform for Al Nassr’s first victory in the Capital Derby in more than three years, and Damac not only helped Al Nassr conclude the campaign strongly, but they represented Al Hassan’s first for the club after almost six seasons there.

Adept in or out of possession, Al Hassan offered the perfect foil for Marcelo Brozovic in the heart of the Al Nassr midfield; he can be mostly a no-frills midfielder who is happy to do the grunt work so that others can shine. Renard will be paying a particular close eye.