Saudi Arabia announces 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup 2022

The nation was knocked out in the group stage in the 2018 edition

Manager Herve Renard has picked a roster of 26 players for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The squad includes Al-Hilal midfielder Salman Al-Fara, who suffered a shoulder injury in a friendly match last week.

According to the reports, skipper Al-Fara was replaced at halftime during the 1-1 stalemate with Iceland, although he is expected to play in the tournament.

"About Salman, we were scared, I think like all Saudi fans, when he fell down and was not able to continue the game. He has something in the shoulder, there is pain but it will be okay in few days," the French coach said this in a video posted by Saudi national team on their official page."

Aside from that, Renard has assembled a solid team that will be able to deliver after being seeded in a difficult group that comprises the competition's favourite, Argentina, Poland, and Mexico.

Saudi Arabia had a terrible World Cup in 2018. Earning only one win and exiting the competition from the group stage. It appears that they will face three major nations this time, and it will be miraculous if they reach the round of 16.

Saudi Arabia will play a friendly against Croatia before facing Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, on November 22.

Here is the 26-man squad ahead of World Cup.

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Al-Yami (Al-Ahly)

Defenders: Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Madu (Al-Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab), Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr), Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal), Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal)

Midfielders: Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Riyadh Sharahili (Abha), Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal), Sami Al-Najei (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Ittihad), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab)

Forwards: Fahad Al-Muwallad (Al-Shabab), Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahly), Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal) Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh)