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48 hours after a disappointing exit from the 2026 World Cup, Yasser Al-Meshal has officially announced his resignation as president of the Saudi Arabian Football Association, ending a period of much criticism and opening the door to a wide-ranging change in Saudi football leadership in the coming period.
This came after a disappointing run in which Saudi Arabia finished bottom of Group 8 with just two points, drawing with Uruguay and Cape Verde and losing to Spain, amid sharp criticism from the Football Association, Greece’s Georgios Donis-led technical staff and a number of players for poor play and a lack of technical identity.
In a message posted on his official page on the X platform, Yasser Al-Meshal stated that he takes full responsibility for Saudi Arabia’s exit from the World Cup, stressing that the result did not match the aspirations of the fans or the board of directors, and apologized to all those who hoped that Al-Akhdar would reach a better tournament.
Al-Meshal explained that his decision not to continue as the president of the federation stems from his belief to pave the way for a new phase, noting that the procedures will begin in accordance with the regulations to open the candidacy procedures to elect a new board of directors in the coming period.
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The outgoing president of the federation also thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince and the Minister of Sports, appreciating the great support for Saudi football in recent years, stressing that he will remain a supporter of Saudi sports and a servant of his country despite leaving office, wishing success for the next administration and a bright future for football.
Al-Meshal was heavily criticized after his shock exit from the 2023 Asian Cup, but he has insisted on completing the mission, which has led to continued setbacks.
