Roberto Mancini and his technical staff look dejected in the dugout.

MANAMA, Oct 16: Saudi Arabia's Italian coach, Roberto Mancini, faced widespread criticism following the goalless draw against Bahrain in the fourth round of Group 3 in the final qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Mancini's future with the Saudi national team is now uncertain, as reports suggest that his contract may soon be terminated. The team has dropped seven points in the first four rounds, earning just five points and currently sitting in third place.

In the post-match press conference, Mancini acknowledged the team's struggles, stating: "We have improved in some areas, but the main issue is our inability to finish chances and the overall weakness in our offensive play."

He highlighted the need for better performances from key attackers, saying, "Our front line, including Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Brikan, Abdullah Radif, and Saleh Al-Shehri, must do better. We missed several easy chances that could have changed our standing."

Mancini emphasized that, despite creating numerous opportunities and even missing a penalty, the team deserved to win. "It’s always easy to blame the coach, and I’ve become used to that throughout my career," he said, adding that players must also take responsibility for their performances.

When addressing his frustration with fans, Mancini said: "It’s normal. I was angry after the match, but this is part of football."

Sources revealed that Yasser Al-Misehal, president of the Saudi Football Federation, held a meeting with Mancini after the match to discuss the situation. In a statement to the media, Al-Misehal said: "The right decision will be made after meeting with the coach and the technical committee."

Media outlets have reported that the federation has already decided to dismiss Mancini, with potential interim replacements being Saleh Al-Mohammadi and Saad Al-Shehri.

Al-Misehal expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance in the qualifiers, but he refrained from making any hasty decisions, stating, "It is unacceptable to go winless in three home games, but appropriate decisions will be made soon."