Saudi Arabia defender Saud Abdulhamid, 26, will join the national football team’s training camp in the United States on May 27 after resolving a passport issue that delayed his departure [1, 2].
Abdulhamid’s passport was stolen during a break-in in Amsterdam, where he had been attending his wedding ceremony with family [1, 2]. Thanks to the help of Saudi authorities, he secured a replacement passport and expressed his enthusiasm on social media, posting, “Let’s go to the World Cup.” [1]
Currently on loan at Ligue 1 club Lens from Roma, Abdulhamid will join coach Georgios Donis’s 30-man preliminary squad preparing in New York [1, 2]. Saudi Arabia began training camps in New York and Texas as they prepare friendlies against Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Senegal [1, 2].
The team’s Group H World Cup campaign will open on June 15 in Miami against Uruguay, followed by matches against Spain on June 21 in Atlanta and Cape Verde on June 26 in Houston [1, 2].
Abdulhamid’s arrival completes the squad ahead of these key fixtures as Saudi Arabia looks to compete on the world stage.