RIYADH – Al-Misehal said that he and the federation’s board members had made every effort to serve Saudi football and meet the expectations of fans, but acknowledged that the team’s failure to advance to the next round was a result that fell short of their ambitions.
“Responsibility requires allowing a new phase, so I decided not to continue until the end of the current term,” Al-Misehal said.
Saudi Arabia began its World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Uruguay, before suffering a 4-0 defeat to Spain in the second match. The team needed a victory over Cape Verde in its final group-stage game to progress but managed only a goalless draw, allowing Cape Verde to advance as Group H runners-up behind Spain.
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The Saudi national team had hoped to advance beyond the group stage for the second time in its history, after the 1994 World Cup which was also held in the United States, but failed to achieve its goal in its seventh participation.
