Renard announces huge 2026 FIFA World Cup chance for RSL stars | OneFootball

A large number of Roshn Saudi League stars will get the opportunity to make their case to be included in Saudi Arabia’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup when the national team convenes later this month.

Manager Herve Renard announced on Sunday that he will call up around 50 players to the 10-day preparatory camp in Qatar, to be split between an “A” group and another overseen by Under-23 coach Luigi Di Bagio.

Both sets of players will contest two friendlies in Doha, with the “A” group taking on Egypt and Serbia as preparations ramp up for this summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In North America, in what will mark Saudi Arabia's seventh World Cup, the Green Falcons have been drawn in Group H alongside the FIFA world No.1-ranked Spain, two-time winners Uruguay and debutants Cape Verde.

Renard's side open their campaign against Uruguay on June 15 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens.

Speaking to the national team’s official media channel in an interview released on Sunday, the Frenchman said: “Of course, in this second group, I won't call some players I know very well and [who are] used to be a lot of times with us. It will be more a group with some players I want to see.

“It's very important also to give a chance to some players, because I'm sure they are waiting for it and they have to show us something.”

Although, understandably, reluctant to provide names given Matchweek 26 of the 2025-26 RSL is still to come later this week, Renard did confirm Khalid Al Ghannam will return to the national team set-up.

The Al Ettifaq winger is enjoying a superb season after returning last summer from his loan at Al Hilal, with Saturday’s opener against Al Shabab representing his ninth league goal this term. It means Al Ghannam, who also has four assists, sits as the division’s current top-scoring Saudi.

“Of course, I know all the Saudi fans, you would like to have some names,” Renard said. “But we can just say at the moment the best Saudi scorer is Khalid Al Ghannam. Of course, he will be with us.

“I won't tell you in which group - but I already know - but congratulations to him. He used to come with us, we'll say a long time ago. Now he's more consistent.

"Thank you to his coach, [Al Ettifaq manager] Saad [Al Shehri]. He gave him a chance to play more as an offensive player, so it's very important for us. And I hope he will be efficient also with the national team."

Renard added: “We still have time to prepare the two squads, but it will be a very important period for us. So, after the next camp, we'll have a good picture about some revelation of some players, if they did well during this camp - if they did well during the friendly games.”

It will no doubt hearten Renard that a number of especially young Saudi talent have been performing brilliantly in the RSL this season.

For example, 18-year-old Al Fayha winger Sabri Dahal netted again at the weekend, while emergent Al Kholood counterpart Abdulaziz Al Elewa, 22, picked up RSL Young Player of the Month for February - the third time he’s won the award in 2025-26.