Georgios Donis Names Bold Squad for Gulf 27
Georgios Donis has wasted no time putting his stamp on Saudi Arabia.
The Greek coach, preparing for his first major test at the helm, has announced a bold 26-man squad for the Gulf Cup “Gulf 27” in Jeddah – and he has done it without some of the country’s biggest names.
Captain axed as Donis rings the changes
The headline omission is brutal and clear. Salem Al-Dawsari, the national team captain and long-time talisman, is out. So is Roma defender Saud Abdulhamid. Both played at the recent World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Both now find themselves watching Gulf 27 from the outside.
They are not alone.
Ahmed Al-Kassar, Ali Majrashi, Ali Lajami, Ayman Yahya, Saleh Al-Shehri and Khalid Al-Ghannam have also been dropped. Eight World Cup players gone in one sweep. Donis has turned a page rather than eased into the job.
The message? No guarantees. Not even for World Cup veterans.
New blood for a home tournament
Into that vacuum step eight fresh faces, each handed a chance on home soil.
Hamed Al-Shanqiti, Mohammed Mahzari, Zakaria Hawsawi, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, Abdullah Al-Salem, Rayan Hamed and Hammam Al-Hammami have all earned call-ups as Donis reshapes his squad ahead of the Jeddah tournament, which runs from 23 September to 6 October.
According to the Saudi national team’s account on X, the final 26-man list reads:
- Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al-Owais, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Hamed Al-Shanqiti.
- Defenders: Abdulelah Al-Amri, Jihad Zikri, Rayan Hamed, Hassan Kadesh, Hassan Tambakti, Nawaf Boushal, Mohammed Mahzari, Mutaib Al-Harbi, Zakaria Hawsawi.
- Midfielders: Musab Al-Juwayr, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Mohammed Kanno, Ziyad Al-Johani, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Alaa Haji, Sultan Mandash, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Hammam Al-Hammami, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat.
- Forwards: Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Firas Al-Buraikan, Abdullah Al-Salem.
It is a blend of established names and players looking to turn an opportunity into a permanent place in the squad. For some, this is a lifeline. For others, a first real audition under a new boss who clearly isn’t afraid to cut deep.
Group of jeopardy in Jeddah
Saudi Arabia will not have long to settle.
They kick off their Gulf 27 campaign against Kuwait on 23 September at Al-Inma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City. Oman await on 26 September. Iraq close out the group-stage schedule on the 29th.
The draw has placed the Green Falcons in Group One with Kuwait, Oman and Iraq – a pool loaded with regional edge and history. Group Two brings together Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain and Yemen.
A home Gulf Cup, a new coach, a reshaped squad, and big names left behind. Donis has made his move. The next question is whether this revamped Saudi side can turn that shock therapy into a trophy run in Jeddah.
