Recalled in the fall of 2024 to head the Saudi selection, Frenchman Hervé Renard was ousted less than two months before the 2026 World Cup.

Published on: 04/17/2026 - 2:48 p.m.

Saudi Arabia will participate in the 2026 World Cup in less than two months, but it will be without Hervé Renard who announced on Friday April 17 that he had been dismissed from his position as coach.

Asked whether he had been dismissed from his position as reported by RMC, the French technician, who returned to this position at the end of 2024 after a first stint between 2019 and 2023, responded in the affirmative.

“It’s football... Saudi Arabia has qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me. And there is only one coach who has made the qualifications and the World Cup, it’s me, in 2022. At least there will be this pride,” he commented again, reached by telephone.

After a rather disappointing stint at the head of the French women's team, Hervé Renard, now 57 years old, was recalled in the fall of 2024 following the dismissal of Italian Roberto Mancini, after a home defeat against Japan (2-0) in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

With AFP

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