He added that a sense of responsibility demanded he create space for a new chapter, confirming he would not serve out the remainder of his term.
Seven years at the helm
Al-Misehal had led the federation for seven years, during which he was a driving force behind Saudi Arabia's successful bid to host the 2034 World Cup — a tournament central to the kingdom's Vision 2030 strategy to reduce dependence on oil revenues.
This year's tournament marked Saudi Arabia's third consecutive World Cup appearance. Despite the buzz around their stunning 2-1 upset of Argentina at the 2022 edition, the three-time Asian champions have not made it past the group stage since reaching the round of 16 back in 1994.
Asian teams struggle in group stage
Saudi Arabia were far from alone in their disappointment. Seven of the Asian contingent were eliminated at the group stage, with only Japan and Australia advancing to the round of 32.
