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Saudi football legend Sami Al Jaber has called for calm over Saudi Arabia’s failure at the 2026 World Cup, stressing that emotional reactions will not help solve the problems that emerged during the tournament, but rather that the next round requires a comprehensive assessment and a clear plan to rebuild the “green”.
Saudi Arabia crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage after settling for one point from three games, a draw with Uruguay, a loss to Spain and a goalless draw against Cape Verde to finish fourth and last in the group.
“Emotional decisions are always wrong and we must first calm down and then work to correct the mistakes and start building a strong Saudi Arabian team on solid foundations, away from emotional reactions or temporary solutions.”
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He added that the most important message after any failure is to objectively assess the reasons that led to this result, then hold the negligent accountable and develop a long-term plan that ensures the team’s better return to the competition.
Al-Jaber reflected on the team’s technical performance against Cape Verde, stressing that the opponent was the most dangerous side throughout the match and created more chances than Al-Akhdar at a time when the Saudi team lacked the ability to create attacking solutions and chances or to really threaten the opponent’s goal.
He noted that a lack of offensive efficiency was one of the most obvious reasons for the early exit, given the players’ inability to convert limited possession into chances, in addition to the team’s struggle to build attacks and link lines.
Al-Jaber concluded his speech by emphasizing that the current phase should be the beginning of a real reform process, which is not limited to names, but also includes the development of technical and administrative works and preparing a generation capable of participating in future elections.
He stressed that the Saudi Arabian national team has the capabilities to come back stronger, but this can only be achieved through proper planning and learning from the World Cup failure, rather than making hasty decisions under the pressure of public anger.
