Mining for Gold: How Renard is using US campaign to burnish World Cup bid | OneFootball

It’s not very often that one country hosts two major international tournaments - one for national teams and one for clubs - at the exact same time, but that is precisely what is happening in the United States this summer.

The US is currently simultaneously staging the FIFA Club World Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup, both of which contain Saudi Arabian interests: Al Hilal in the revamped former, and the national team in the latter, on invite.

Owing to Al Hilal’s participation in the inaugural expanded Club World Cup, the Green Falcons have had to navigate the Gold Cup without a host of their mainstays.

For instance, there is no Salem Al Dawsari, the team captain, nor Hassan Al Tambakti and Mohammed Kanno, not to mention rising star Musab Al Juwayr. That quartet featured in the final matches of the Third Round of Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the start of the month.

As Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard prepares for the the crucial Fourth Round of Asian Qualifiers in October, the absence of Al Hilal’s stars from his squad has afforded the Frenchman an opportunity to give valuable match minutes to those who would otherwise be on the fringes of his side.

Renard can therefore use the Gold Cup to cast the net as wide as possible to uncover the best combinations for those crunch games that will decide Saudi Arabia’s World Cup fate. Next month, they discover which other teams they’ll face later this year.

Back in his second stint, Renard will be pleased with how his squad has handled the occasion of the Gold Cup to date, with an historic victory against Haiti in their Group D opener and draw with Trinidad & Tobago enough to seal their passage through to the knockout rounds.

It has teed up a quarter-final clash with Mexico, the defending champions, in Arizona in the early hours of Sunday, Saudi time.

Coming at the end of a long, arduous domestic campaign, a challenge extenuated by the emotionally taxing Asian Qualifiers – Saudi Arabia defeated Bahrain but lost against Australia to finish third in their group – players could be forgiven for taking the foot off the gas as they eye off a summer vacation.

But that hasn’t been the case at all.

Any time the team takes to the pitch, there is pride at stake, and competing in a continental competition carries a level of prestige - even if they are an invited team in a CONCACAF competition. With October not too far from focus, there is still plenty at stake.

That Saudi Arabia have been able to navigate their way past some tricky opponents to earn a spot in the last eight is testament to the depth of talent in the team and within the Roshn Saudi League.

In the absence of the celebrated Al Hilal contingent, others have stepped up to the plate to press their case with Renard for future matches.

Coming off RSL title success with Al Ittihad, Abdulelah Al Amri has been a rock at the back in all of the Group D fixtures – the side also faced hosts USA – with Saudi Arabia conceding only twice in three matches.

And that miserliness is in large part down to Al Amri’s defensive efforts in partnership with Al Ettifaq centre-back Abdullah Madu.

Al Amri averaged almost eight clearances per match, with 22 across the three outings, including one crucial block on the line in the 1-0 victory against Haiti. Meanwhile, he has also contributed five interceptions and won more than half of his duels during his game-time in North America.

Abdullah Madu has been a mainstay at the back for Saudi Arabia at CONCACAF Gold Cup

Al Amri’s Al Ittihad teammate, Abdulrahman Al Obud, arrived at the Gold Cup off the back of a career-best season with the champions.

He is another who has impressed when given the opportunity, especially against Trinidad & Tobago, when he had a shot hit the crossbar and another cleared off the line - in the same phase of play.

In total, Renard has used 19 players across the three group encounters, with only four players – goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi, Al Amri, AS Roma full-back Saud Abdulhamid and Al Ahli’s AFC Champions League Elite-winning midfielder Ziyad Al Johani – starting every game.

After sealing progression to the knockout rounds with the 0-0 draw with Trinidad & Tobago, Renard spoke about the value in having this competitive camp and a serious tournament of pedigree shorn of his Al Hilal stars.

“It’s always good for a coach to spend more time with the players, especially when you are coach with a national team, because you don’t have a lot of time,” he said.

“Even if it’s more difficult, we can also say, for this tournament, it’s a good thing we don't have the Al Hilal players, so we can see some parts of the game that are difficult.”

While there are facets of the team’s play that Renard still wants to refine, particularly killing the game off when the opportunity presents, the Gold Cup has been an endeavour that has shown the quality and depth of this side.

One, for sure, that is built off the strength of the RSL.