SEAToday.com, Jeddah - The opening match of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia in Jeddah, (September/6/2024) ended in a 1-1 draw, but the result was overshadowed by the concerns raised by Saudi coach Roberto Mancini regarding his players' lack of playing time at the club level, 

In the post-match press conference, Mancini expressed his frustration, saying, "We had to rely on 20 reserve players for this phase of the qualifiers." The Italian tactician lamented that many of his key players are often relegated to the bench at their respective clubs, hampering their preparation and match fitness for the national team.

"We noticed that a lot of Saudi players are not getting enough playing time at their clubs," echoed Indonesian coach Shin Tae-yong, as quoted by arriyadiyah, who seemed to have studied the Saudi squad in detail ahead of the encounter. This lack of regular playing time appears to be a significant factor affecting the Saudis' performance on the international stage.

Mancini acknowledged the team's struggle to capitalize on their scoring chances, stating, "We've been facing issues converting chances, but performance shouldn't be judged by results alone." The Saudi coach remained optimistic, however, asserting that his squad has a distinct playing style and identity, despite the challenges they face.

The draw left Saudi Arabia in second place in Group C, behind Bahrain, who secured a 1-0 victory over Australia. In the same group, Japan recorded an emphatic 7-0 win over China, while Australia suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Bahrain. These results further underline the competitiveness of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers as the teams vie for a spot in the 2026 tournament.

As the qualifiers progress, Mancini and the Saudi management will have to find a way to ensure their players receive more consistent playing time at the club level, a challenge that could prove crucial in their quest to secure a place in the upcoming World Cup.

Writer: Fariz Ahmad Luthfi