Hervé Renard Saudi Arabia sacked shock exit confirmed as French coach departs months before 2026 World Cup preparations

French coach Hervé Renard has confirmed he has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Saudi Arabia, in a shock development less than two months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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Saudi Arabia Part Ways With Hervé Renard in Shock Exit was confirmed on Friday, bringing an abrupt end to his second spell in charge of the national team and raising questions over Saudi Arabia’s preparations for the global tournament.

Speaking after his departure, the 57-year-old expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride, reflecting on his contribution to Saudi football history.

“That’s football… Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me,” he told AFP.

“And there’s only one coach who has led them through both the qualifiers and the World Cup; that’s me, in 2022. At least there will be that sense of pride,” he added.

Renard returned to the Saudi role at the end of 2024 following Roberto Mancini’s departure, having previously managed the team between 2019 and 2023.

His earlier spell remains widely regarded as a high point, particularly after guiding Saudi Arabia to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they recorded a famous victory over eventual champions Argentina.

Renard, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner with Zambia and Ivory Coast, also enjoyed success with the French women’s national team, leading them to the quarter-finals of both the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.

Reports suggest former Greece international Georgios Donis is being considered as a possible replacement, with discussions ongoing between the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Al Khaleej.

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Saudi Arabia are set to compete in Group H at the 2026 World Cup alongside Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde, but will now head into the tournament under new leadership.