Qatar FIFA World Cup 2026 preview — Asian champion dares to dream big at World Cup

Like two of the other teams in the group, a first-ever knockout qualification would also be the target for Qatar, a side whose World Cup cycle has been a mixed bag.

After winning the second straight AFC Asian Cup in 2023, Qatar ultimately chose the difficult route to the World Cup.

Defeats against Uzbekistan, the UAE and Iran meant the country had to play the fourth round of the AFC qualifiers in Asia to advance.

Julen Lopetegui’s appointment made headlines and only after he came in did the appointment qualify just in time.

But there are also worrying signals. Under the Spaniard, Qatar has recorded just one win in twelve matches. To make matters worse, the team’s preparations, including friendlies against Serbia and Sudan, before the World Cup were disrupted due to the war between Iran and the US.

That doesn’t bode well for a side vying to put on a better showing at this World Cup than it did four years ago, when it lost all three of its group stage matches and was statistically the worst team in the 32-team tournament.

However, Qatar had qualified as hosts at the time. This time it is about sporting merits and the same fate as last time in Group B can be avoided.

Player to watch out for: Akram Afif

Afif scored a hat-trick in the 2023 Asia Cup final as Qatar defeated Jordan 3-1. He had also impressed with his play in the side’s first continental victory in 2019. However, after the dismal performance in the first World Cup appearance, Afif would be keen to get his first set in a row.

Manager: Julen Lopetegui

Felix Sánchez paved the way to the World Cup for Qatar four years ago. His compatriot Lopetegui is expected to stick to the Spanish way of football, with a lot of ball possession and short interplay. But unlike his predecessor, Lopetegui has a lot to show. Results haven’t been in his favor lately and he goes into the World Cup under pressure to perform.

Predicted lineup:

Meshaal Barsham – Sultan Al-Brake, Boualem ⁠Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Ayoub Al Alawi – Karim ‌Boudiaf, Assim Madibo, Akram Afif, Mohammed Al-Manai, Edmilson Junior – Almoez Ali.

World Cup statistics

• Appearance: 1

• Best finish: group stage (2022)

• FIFA ranking: 55

• Matches played: 3

• Won: 0

• Drawn: 0

• Lost: 3

• GF: 1

• GA: 7

• Highest active goalscorer: Almoez Ali (55)

Team

Goalkeepers: Salah⁠Zakaria, Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham

Defenders: Hashmi Hussein, Ayoub Al Alawi, Boualem ⁠Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Issa Laaye, Lucas Mendes, Sultan Al-Brake, Homam Al-Amin

Midfielders: Mohammed Al-Manai, Jassem Jaber, Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathi, Abdulaziz Hatem, Assim Madibo

Forward: Tahseen Mohammed, Edmilson Junior, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Mohammed Muntari, Youssef Abdulrazzaq, Ahmed Alaa, Hassan Al-Haydos, Ahmed Al-Janahi

Published on June 5, 2026