The Qatar World Cup 2026 squad is the first to have qualified for the World Cup after the nation played in the 2022 tournament as hosts.
Their pre-tournament plans were disrupted by matters that extend far beyond football, with March friendlies cancelled and a training camp arranged to fill the gap. Far from ideal.
But with Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina also playing out a 1–1 draw, Qatar finds itself in a wide-open, perfectly level group. The team enters their second match against co-hosts Canada in Vancouver with confidence and zero pressure, knowing that a win would put them on the cusp of an improbable knockout-stage berth.
The group who convened in March included only two who play outside Qatar. Defender Homam Ahmed plays in Spain for Cultural Leonesa, midfielder Mostafa Meshaal for Eupen in Belgium.
Just as their opening World Cup match seemed destined for a narrow Swiss victory, Qatar capitalised in the 94th minute. Star playmaker Akram Afif delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, and 34-year-old veteran Boualem Khoukhi rose highest to power home a dramatic equaliser.
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The Mood
For Qatar, the 2022 World Cup was a big success off the pitch but a huge disappointment on it, with three defeats from three. Half an hour into their tournament debut against Ecuador, their campaign was realistically over.
The Maroons are on their sixth manager (all Iberian) since that game, despite defending their Asian Cup crown in 2024. Julen Lopetegui is the latest and he squeezed them through AFC’s World Cup repechage round, helped by home advantage and a favourable schedule.
Since then, Qatar have lost at home to Zimbabwe, Palestine and Tunisia, and been forced to cancel friendlies against Serbia and Argentina. Still, they’re determined to improve and this group offers that opportunity.
Strengths
The squad is experienced. Lopetegui adds pedigree. Akram Afif is arguably one of the best players in Asia.
Weaknesses
They’re perhaps overreliant on older players, and goals look hard to come by if Afif isn’t firing – Almoez Ali isn’t guaranteed his place up front. Qatar also lost an unhealthy number of points from decent positions in qualifying, conceding 24 goals in 10 Third Round fixtures, including two in North Korea, three in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, four in Iran and five in the UAE.
Squad
Qatar World Cup 2026 squad
- GK: Mahmud Abunada (Al-Rayyan)
- GK: Salah Zakaria (Al-Duhail)
- GK: Meshaal Barsham (Al-Sadd)
- DF: Pedro Miguel (Al-Sadd)
- DF: Lucas Mendes (Al-Wakrah)
- DF: Issa Laye (Al-Arabi)
- DF: Jassem Gaber (Al-Rayyan)
- DF: Ayoub Al-Oui (Al-Gharafa)
- DF: Homam Ahmed (Cultural Leonesa)
- DF: Boualem Khoukhi (Al-Sadd)
- DF: Sultan Al-Brake (Al-Duhail)
- DF: Al-Hashmi Al-Hussain (Al-Arabi)
- MF: Abdulaziz Hatem (Al-Rayyan)
- MF: Karim Boudiaf (Al-Duhail)
- MF: Ahmed Al-Ganehi (Al-Gharafa)
- MF: Ahmed Fathy (Al-Arabi)
- MF: Assim Madibo (Al-Wakrah)
- FW: Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al-Rayyan)
- FW: Edmilson Junior (Al-Duhail)
- FW: Mohammed Muntari (Al-Gharafa)
- FW: Hassan Al-Haydos (Al-Sadd)
- FW: Akram Afif (Al-Sadd)
- FW: Yusuf Abdurisag (Al-Wakrah)
- FW: Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail)
- FW: Tahsin Jamshid (Al-Duhail)
- FW: Mohamed Manai (Al-Shamal)
Fixtures
- June 18, 2026: Canada vs Qatar , BC Place , Vancouver, Canada
- June 24, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar , Lumen Field , Seattle, United States
Recent Results
- June 13, 2026: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland , Levi's Stadium , Santa Clara, United States
- May 28, 2026: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Qatar , Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- March 26, 2026: Qatar 0-0 Serbia , Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- December 07, 2025: Qatar 0-3 Tunisia , Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar
- December 04, 2025: Syria 1-1 Qatar , Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar
- December 01, 2025: Qatar 0-1 Palestine , Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- November 17, 2025: Qatar 1-2 Zimbabwe , Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- October 14, 2025: Qatar 2-1 UAE , Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- October 08, 2025: Oman 0-0 Qatar , Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- September 07, 2025: Qatar 1-4 Russia , Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- September 03, 2025: Qatar 2-2 Bahrain , Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- June 10, 2025: Uzbekistan 3-0 Qatar , Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- June 05, 2025: Qatar 1-0 Iran , Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- March 25, 2025: Kyrgyzstan 3-1 Qatar , Dolon Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Manager
Who is Qatar's manager?
Qatar’s last six managers have all been from the Iberian Peninsula, with their last three being Spanish. Julen Lopetegui who is the current manager, is the most high profile to have had the role.
His previous experience includes Real Madrid, where he lasted less than half a season before being sacked. He enjoyed a better spell at Sevilla, where he won the Europa League.
Lopetegui will be familiar to English football fans, having had two stints in the Premier League in the past few years. He was in charge of Wolves before leaving on the eve of the new season in 2023, before taking charge of West Ham, again only for just over half a season before being sacked.
Star player
Who is Qatar's star player?
Almoez Ali has represented Qatar at several major tournaments. He was part of the Qatari team that participated in the 2019 Copa America, scoring against Paraguay.
He also participated in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he scored four times and won the top scorer award, as Qatar finished third.
He was also in the squad for the 2022 World Cup featuring in every game. He’ll be hoping to break his duck in 2026 and become just the second ever Qatari player to score in the tournament.
Best XI
Predicted XI
Qatar predicted XI vs Canada (4-3-3): Mahmoud Abunada; Homam Al Amin, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Ayoub Al Oui; Issa Laye, Assim Madibo, Jassem Gaber; Akram Afif, Yusu Abdurisag, Edmilson Junior
