Sami Al-Maghamsi

The World Cup is over... What have we prepared for the future?

July 20, 2026 - 00:03 | Last update July 20, 2026 - 00:03

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- The party is over; winners won, losers lost, some peoples rejoiced, others mourned. Then came the usual in football: cancellation of coaches' contracts, resignations of federation presidents. But beyond the noise of momentary results, what are the lessons learned from the greatest and strongest tournament in the world of the round ball?

- On the green pitch, the tournament taught us a profound lesson in willpower; big names and glorious history do not excuse the lazy, and effort and spirit are always the decisive factors. We saw teams that were classified as 'underdogs' conquer giants of the game thanks to administrative organization, fighting spirit, and tactical discipline. This lesson proves that hard work and proper planning can narrow technical gaps no matter the opponent's size or historic prestige.

- The World Cup is the true test of leadership art; the successful coach is not only the one with a arsenal of stars, but the one who can manage the dressing room, handle media and fan pressure, and strike the delicate balance between strict discipline and psychological support for players. Leadership in such arenas teaches us that tactics without 'team spirit' do not produce champions.

- Success is not a stroke of luck

Teams that regularly reach advanced stages are not born by chance, but are the fruits of long-term strategies based on attention to academies, development of local competitions, and support for youth and seedlings. Athletic success is the result of cumulative plans and continuous building, not just a stroke of luck or a flash in the pan.

- And here we come to our reality; Saudi football awaits very important continental and international obligations, and two questions that everyone must ask with full transparency:

What have we prepared for these obligations? And how can we build a strong national team that matches the strength of our intense domestic league?

- The state, may God support it, has provided all support, unprecedented facilities for Saudi sports, pumped money, opened the doors of privatization, and established academies, but on the other hand, national team results are still below desired ambitions and do not match this generous support.

- So, what is to be done? How can we build a strong national team capable of being among the top ten teams in the world?

- This goal is not impossible 'on paper,' but it requires great institutional work on the ground. And the discussion here is not limited to football only, but extends to include all different sports, team and individual; we aspire to strong teams that raise the nation's flag in all forums, as long as unlimited support is available.

- On the threshold of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation elections to choose the new president and board members, the candidates' names emerge, some familiar with experience, others appearing for the first time.

- From this standpoint, I hope for a review of the regulations and conditions for candidacy in line with the requirements of the current stage and the ambitious vision goals, so that the candidate for presidency or membership must have a rich record of administrative and sports experience, and a clear and applicable vision consistent with our high ceiling of ambitions; to ensure that our sports are led by those who deserve it and can bring it to global podiums.