Saudi national team coach Roberto Mancini justified the “Green” draw with Indonesia 1-1 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers by the crisis of local players in the Saudi league.
Each Saudi club has the right to contract 8 foreign players in addition to other under-age players, which was the reason for the absence of local players from participating continuously in matches.
Mancini said after the stumbling against Indonesia, “The Saudi national team players must participate as a mainstay with their clubs. I have 20 players sitting on the bench in local matches.”
He also added, “There is no solution to this dilemma, and we just have to intensify work with them.”
He concluded, “The first match in the qualifiers is always difficult. Indonesia is a strong team and has good players who play professionally in Europe.”
The Saudi national team is preparing to face the Chinese national team in the capital, Beijing, next Tuesday, in the second round of the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Saudi Arabia can qualify directly to the World Cup from the third round if it tops or comes in second in the group, while finishing third or fourth will mean it will play in the fourth round.
