Doha, June 08 (QNA) – Qatar’s national football team hopes to make history as it prepares to compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026 finals, co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

Qatar will begin its World Cup journey in a Group B match against Switzerland on June 13, then Canada on June 18, and finally, Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24.

The national team aims to make its second appearance in the World Cup exceptional, after participating for the first time during the FIFA World Cup 2022 as the host country, gaining from that experience a lot of expertise that raised the bar for ambitions in the new edition.

Four years after its first appearance, which was marked by pressure to achieve technical success that matched the brilliance of organizing a historic edition of the World Cup, Qatar returns to the World Cup in a different form in 2026, amidst real potential that opens the door for it to write history by passing the group stage for the first time.

In its quest to advance from the group stages, Qatar’s team is based on five pillars. One of them is stability with the main squad, where 14 players from the previous World Cup will participate once again, bringing forward cumulative experience.

The World Cup 2026 roster indicates that the current team has experienced the World Cup in all its details, from the pressure of the fans to the fear of competition, which gives it an advantage that cannot be measured by numbers. Not only does the national team have skill, but also shared experience.

In this regard, Hassan Al Haydos, who will wear the captain’s armband in the World Cup as he did in 2022, said that the experience that the group possesses will be pivotal in dealing with the World Cup, as their rich prior experience left a huge legacy that helps in overcoming any competitive challenges.

He added that the pressure will inevitably be great, and therefore the presence of players who have gone through this experience will help provide a stronger character in facing high-caliber competitors, just as was the case in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which removes many factors of intimidation and fear, and constitutes a great incentive for the players.

The second factor is the absence of the exceptional pressures that preceded the previous participation, when Qatar played in the World Cup under the weight of demands to achieve results commensurate with the status of the host country, which kept the eyes on it in an unprecedented way. This made the current participation a mindset shift that could be crucial in giving players more space to play freely and without pressure.

Added to this factor is the way in which Qatar reached the 2026 World Cup by securing its place through the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup for the first time, after a great effort that gave the players a greater sense of confidence, and formed an extension of previous successes at the continental level, when the team managed to retain the titles of the last two editions of the Asian Cup.

The qualifying journey was not easy, as Qatar experienced unexpected details after failing to secure qualification through the third stage of the qualifiers as hoped, and was forced to go through the playoffs to secure its place after a decisive and exciting match against the UAE.

Regarding this aspect, Qatar’s coach Julen Lopetegui indicated in previous statements to Qatar News Agency that reaching the World Cup for the first time through the qualifiers is a source of pride and honor, as it is a dream come true. He considered this an incentive for the players towards another dream, to defend their chances of qualifying for the next round. He stressed that this achievement pushes the players to demonstrate fighting spirit, determination, and perseverance.

The third key factor that the Qatari national team is counting on to make a historic appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the exceptional duo of Akram Afif and Almoez Ali. These two have played a major role in the team’s success over recent years.

Alongside a talented generation of graduates from the Aspire Academy, the pair helped rewrite the history of Qatari football on the continental stage when they led Qatar to its first-ever AFC Asian Cup title in 2019 in the UAE. Almoez Ali set a historic record as the top scorer in a single edition of the tournament with nine goals, while Akram Afif was crowned the tournament’s best playmaker after providing ten assists.

The duo also played a crucial role in helping Qatar retain the continental title in 2023 on home soil. Akram Afif was named the tournament’s Best Player and top scorer after netting eight goals and assisting five more, earning his second AFC Player of the Year award since 2019. Meanwhile, Almoez Ali continued his outstanding performances and further enhanced his impressive continental record.

Their brilliance continued during the World Cup qualifying campaign. Almoez finished as the qualifiers’ top scorer with 12 goals, while Akram contributed to 14 goals through a combination of scoring and assisting, recording four goals and ten assists.

The Qatari national team is relying heavily on this duo to help advance beyond the group stage, especially following Almoez’s return from a long injury layoff, increasing optimism surrounding their ability to make a decisive impact at the World Cup.

Speaking about the pair, Lopetegui said that Almoez’s return had come at the right time, despite the lengthy absence that prevented him from reaching an even higher level of match fitness. He also described Akram as an invaluable asset, expressing great satisfaction with the outstanding level he displayed throughout the season, which strengthens expectations of his influential role at the World Cup.

The fourth pillar supporting Qatar’s ambitions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui himself. His extensive experience in global football, particularly in Europe, makes his presence significant in helping the Qatari national team pursue its goals.

Lopetegui has built a rich coaching resume over many years. He managed the Spanish national team from 2016 to 2018 and has also coached major clubs including Real Madrid, Sevilla, Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The manager has demonstrated considerable competence since taking charge of Qatar during a difficult period marked by declining performances and disappointing results. He helped restore tactical discipline and rebuild confidence within the squad before guiding the team to World Cup qualification through the Asian playoff route, proving his ability to provide effective tactical solutions and manage the finer details of the game.

The fifth, and final factor, supporting the national team at the tournament is fan support. The Social and Sport Contribution Fund (Daam) signed a funding agreement with the Qatar Football Association to support the Qatari supporters’ delegation program for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Under the agreement, the attendance of 1,000 Qatari fans will be secured to support the national team at the tournament. Special flights will transport supporters from Qatar to the United States on June 9, 10, and 11, providing a major boost for the players and motivating them to deliver their best performances during the matches.

In this regard, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Qatar Football Association (QFA) Khalid Mubarak Al Kuwari, emphasized in his remarks that the association is keen to ensure the attendance of a significant number of supporters in order to create a strong and influential fan presence behind the national team at this major global event, providing an important morale boost for the players.

Al Kuwari explained that Qatari fans will appear during the tournament wearing their traditional national attire, a step that carries a cultural message reflecting pride in Qatar’s national identity and heritage. It will also serve as an opportunity to showcase the country’s rich cultural legacy to an international audience.

The Qatari national team is aiming to make history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by achieving the extraordinary feat of advancing beyond the group stage. The team is counting on several factors, including the experience gained from hosting and participating in the 2022 World Cup, the strong chemistry among squad members, star players capable of making a decisive impact, the confidence derived from earning qualification through the qualifiers, the extensive coaching expertise of Julen Lopetegui, and the anticipated support of thousands of fans.

Together, these elements provide Qatar with a genuine opportunity to realize its ambitions and write a new chapter in the history of Qatari football. (QNA)