Renard Heads to Washington for 2026 World Cup Draw, Assistant to Lead Saudi Team in Arab Cup

Reports indicate that French coach Hervé Renard, manager of the Saudi national team, will travel to Washington D.C. to attend the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Renard is scheduled to depart for the U.S. capital on Thursday. He will attend the "Al-Akhdar" (Saudi national team) training session on Wednesday before his trip, fulfilling a request from FIFA, which preferred his presence at the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony.

The same source added that Renard's assistant, Frenchman François Rodrigues, will be tasked with overseeing the Saudi national team's training and leading them on the field for their match against Comoros. This game is part of the second round of Group C fixtures in the Arab Cup.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Kennedy Center this Friday, with prominent political and sports figures in attendance, led by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump.