The President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, SAFF, Yasser Al-Misehal has resigned from his position following the national team’s disappointing performance at the World Cup, the federation announced on Monday.
The resignation comes days after the Green Falcons crashed out of the tournament in the group stage, failing to advance despite high expectations and significant investment in the sport in recent years.
In a statement released by SAFF, the football chief said he was taking “full responsibility” for the team’s results and stepping down to allow for “a new phase of technical and administrative development.”
“The federation thanks him for his efforts during his tenure and for his contributions to Saudi football,” the statement read. “A new leadership will be appointed to oversee the next stage of our football project.”
Saudi Arabia entered the World Cup with renewed optimism after a historic 2-1 victory over eventual finalists Argentina in the opening match. However, back-to-back defeats in the following games saw the team finish bottom of their group and exit the competition early.
The early departure drew heavy criticism from fans and sports analysts in the Kingdom, many of whom questioned the team’s preparation, tactical approach, and the overall direction of Saudi football despite billions spent on domestic league development and international partnerships.
Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal had earlier pledged a full review of the national team setup after the tournament.
The resignation marks the latest major change in Saudi football as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its ambitious Vision 2030 sports agenda. Over the past two years, the Saudi Pro League has attracted global stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar, as part of efforts to raise the profile of domestic football.
SAFF said an interim committee will manage federation affairs until a new president is elected. The committee is expected to appoint a technical director and review the coaching structure of the national team ahead of upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
“We remain committed to building a competitive national team that represents Saudi Arabia with pride,” the federation added. “The lessons of this World Cup will guide our planning for the future.”
Fans on social media reacted with mixed views, with many welcoming the resignation as a sign of accountability, while others called for deeper reforms in youth development and coaching.
Saudi Arabia will now turn its attention to rebuilding ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and feature an expanded 48-team format.
