Saudi Arabia appoint Greek Georgios Donis to lead nation at 2026 finals

With their head coach role vacant, Saudi Arabia have turned to familiarity ahead of the World Cup this summer, appointing Georgios Donis as head coach following the dismissal of Hervé Renard.

The change, confirmed on Thursday, comes less than two months before the tournament, leaving Donis with limited time to impose any significant tactical shift.

Donis arrives from Saudi side Al Khaleej and is well-versed in the Saudi Pro League, having previously managed Al Hilal and a number of other domestic sides over the past decade.

That familiarity is central to the decision – given Donis’s lack of experience against World Cup level opposition. In confirming the appointment, the Saudi Arabian FA said: “He has extensive experience in the league, including his most recent post [which] enhances his ability to adapt quickly.”

With a short runway before the World Cup, that ability to “adapt quickly” is likely to have taken precedence over longer-term planning.

That plaaning will be led by Matt Crocker who earlier this month was announced as leaving his role as US Soccer sporting director after less that three years in the role and with two months to go to the home-hosted 2026 World Cup.

Crocker, who built his reputation at Southampton and then with England’s national teams set-up from 2013-2020, is moving to a similar position at the Saudi Arabia football federation.

Saudi Arabia open their campaign against Uruguay on June 15, before facing Spain and Cape Verde in what stacks up as a demanding group.

Renard’s departure ended a second spell in charge that began in October 2024, when he returned to replace Roberto Mancini. Results have not favoured the Frenchman in recent months, including a 4-0 friendly defeat to Egypt and a 2-1 loss to Serbia, which ultimately increased the pressure on Renard to breaking point.

His first tenure was defined by the 2-1 win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup – one of the tournament’s standout results and Argentina’s only loss as they went on to win the title.

With Donis in the door, Saudi Arabia’s priority now is short-term cohesion. The Greek’s track record in the domestic league suggests he can navigate the environment, but with the World Cup looming, there will be little margin for a slow start.

Their next scheduled match is their World Cup opener on June 15.