Ebnoutalib Germany Call-Up Tests Morocco, Saudi Loses WRC Finale And Ismail Matar Joins UAE Staff

Hey hey hey, Smashi Sports Fam! 🌟⚽
From Morocco’s stance on Younes Ebnoutalib to Saudi Arabia’s WRC calendar change and Ismail Matar joining the UAE national team setup, there’s plenty happening across regional sport. Ebnoutalib has been called up by Germany after Morocco tracked him for months, Saudi Arabia will no longer host the 2026 WRC season finale, and Matar has joined Zlatko Dalić’s UAE staff before Khaleeji 27.

Morocco Lose Ground In Younes Ebnoutalib Race

What Is It About
Younes Ebnoutalib is a German-Moroccan forward playing for Eintracht Frankfurt, where he has started the season strongly with 4 goals and 2 assists in 4 games. Morocco had been tracking him since last season, with his name included on pre-selection lists in March and June.

Why It Matters
Mohamed Ouahbi spoke to Ebnoutalib about the Morocco project, but did not promise him a place. Germany have now called him up, with Jürgen Klopp including him for Nations League matches, although he is not officially tied to Germany until he plays a competitive senior match.

What’s Next
Ouahbi made Morocco’s stance clear, saying: “We are 6th in the world, we don’t negotiate.” The message is that the Morocco shirt has to be earned, and the tone now sounds like: if Ebnoutalib has chosen Germany, Morocco move on.

Saudi Arabia Loses WRC 2026 Finale

What Is It About
Saudi Arabia will no longer host the final round of the 2026 World Rally Championship, with the season finale now moved to Italy. The decision comes because of regional uncertainty affecting logistics, with the WRC calendar cut from 14 rounds to 13.

Why It Matters
The 2026 title will now be decided at Rally Italia Sardegna instead of Saudi Arabia. However, Rally Saudi has not been cancelled completely. It will still take place in November, but now under the FIA Middle East Rally Championship.

What’s Next
That regional rally still carries major interest, with Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah leading Saudi Arabia’s Hamza Bakhashab by only 4 points. Saudi only joined the WRC calendar in 2025, and the FIA says it still believes in the Kingdom’s long-term future in the championship.

Ismail Matar Joins UAE Staff Before Khaleeji 27

What Is It About
Ismail Matar has joined the UAE national team coaching staff under head coach Zlatko Dalić. The UAE football legend starts from the team’s current Abu Dhabi training camp, as preparations continue for Khaleeji 27 in Saudi Arabia from September 23 to October 6, 2026.

Why It Matters
Matar is one of the biggest names in UAE football history. The former UAE national team and Al Wahda star was the hero of the country’s first Gulf Cup title in 2007, scoring the winner against Oman and finishing the tournament as both top scorer and best player.

What’s Next
Matar also won the Golden Ball at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, giving Dalić a respected Emirati figure inside the staff. His arrival brings local knowledge, dressing-room respect and real Gulf Cup experience before a major regional tournament.

🤖🎙️Tune Into the Smashi Sports AI Podcast for the Latest Insights!

• Don’t miss out on the Smashi Sports AI Podcast in English, where we bring you the latest sports news through the power of AI!

• For our Arabic-Speaking listeners, we’ve got you with game-changing transfers to insider analysis, we’ve got all the updates you need.

SMASHI MOMENTS

• Hamza Abdelkarim stayed behind for extra finishing work with Jules Kounde during Barcelona training.

• Morocco’s Abdellah Ouazane has won Ajax’s first Goal of the Month award of the season for his August strike against Heerenveen.⁠

• Jang Hyun-soo shared an emotional reunion with his former club Al Hilal after facing them with Al Gharafa in the AFC Champions League Elite.⁠

• Sardar Azmoun almost gave Shabab Al Ahli an early lead against Iranian side Tractor in their AFC Champions League Elite opener

• Firas Al Buraikan rescued Saudi side Al Ahli with a dramatic 90+3’ equaliser against Pakhtakor in their AFC Champions League Elite opener.⁠

 Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe Here