Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui named nine forwards, including two-time Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif and the country’s all-time top scorer Almoez Ali, in his World Cup squad on Monday, as the Asian champion prepares for a tournament that could redefine his position on the world stage.
Qatar heads to North America aiming to move on from a disappointing 2022 season on home soil, where it became the first host nation to lose all three group matches despite heavy investment and high expectations.
Since then, however, the Golf squad has quietly rebuilt the momentum, retaining the Asian Cup in 2023 and qualifying for the World Cup on merit for the first time.
Lopetegui’s squad retains a familiar core, with several players from the 2022 squad including defender Pedro Miguel, goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham and midfielders Assim Madibo, Abdulaziz Hatem and Karim Boudiaf.
Qatar will play Switzerland in Santa Clara on June 13 before taking on co-host Canada in Vancouver on June 18 and Bosnia and Herzegovina six days later in Seattle.
Qatar selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Goalkeepers: SalahZakaria, Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham
Defenders: Hashmi Hussein, Ayoub 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 2, 2026
