Saudi Arabia step up training in New York ahead of Ecuador friendly

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia continued preparations in New York on Friday ahead of a friendly against Ecuador as the Green Falcons build toward the World Cup, which starts next month.

The match against Ecuador on Saturday forms part of a series of warm-up fixtures for the Saudi squad, which also includes friendlies against Puerto Rico and Senegal before the tournament begins on June 11.

The Saudi players went through their paces at the New York City FC training center under the supervision of coach Georgios Donis.

The session included warm-up drills, passing exercises, small-sided matches and tactical work as the team stepped up groundwork for the World Cup in the US.

Defender Saud Abdulhamid joined the squad after helping French club RC Lens to win the Coupe de France.

The 26-year-old had initially been scheduled to join the team’s preparatory camp in Riyadh earlier this week, but was delayed after his passport was reportedly stolen in Amsterdam while attending a family wedding celebration.

Saudi Arabia begin their Group H World Cup campaign against Uruguay in Miami on June 15 before facing Spain in Atlanta on June 21 and Cape Verde in Houston on June 26.