Doha: September 04 – The Qatar national football team will aim to capitalize on home-field advantage as they kick off their participation in Group A of the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Since retaining their continental title in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, which they first won in 2019, the national team has been focused on making their second appearance at the World Cup. All eyes will be on the opening match against the UAE tomorrow, Thursday, in Doha.
Spanish coach Bartolome Marquez Lopez, who took over the Qatar national team in January 2024, succeeding Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, aims to make a significant impact in terms of both performance and results. Lopez is expected to leverage his previous experience with many of the current players during his tenure leading the team to their second continental title.
Akram Afif and his teammates faced no difficulties in advancing to the third round, finishing top of Group A w
ith five wins and one draw. Undoubtedly, the benefits of their continental triumph will have a positive influence on Qatar’s journey through the third round of the World Cup qualifiers.
During these crucial qualifiers, Coach Lopez will maintain a pragmatic and strategic approach, handling each match individually and aligning with the players’ individual and collective abilities.
Qatar begins its third-round campaign by hosting the UAE, which gives them an advantage in securing full points. They will then travel on Sep. 10 to face North Korea in Laos before returning to Doha to host Kyrgyzstan on Oct. 10. Following that, they will face a tough test in Tehran against Iran on Oct. 15, before hosting Uzbekistan on Nov. 14 to conclude the first round.
The return leg begins with an away match against the UAE on Nov. 19, followed by a home game against North Korea on Mar. 20, 2025. Qatar will then travel to face Kyrgyzstan on Mar. 25, before hosting Iran on Jun. 5, 2025, and concluding the third round with an awa
y match against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Jun. 10.
Qatar’s World Cup qualifying journey relies heavily on the experience of key players, including Akram Afif, the best player of the 2023 Asian Cup, who has reached a high level of maturity, making him one of the most prominent strikers in Qatar’s football history.
Almoez Ali is another key offensive option in Coach Lopez’s lineup, thanks to his agility and intelligent movement inside the penalty area. Although the Al Duhail striker had been absent from local competitions with his club, his strong start to the current season indicates a return to form, having led Al Duhail to the top of the Qatari league (QNB Stars League) with a perfect record after three rounds.
The return of Assim Madibo, who missed the previous phase, is a significant boost for Qatar’s midfield, especially after his impressive performances with his new club, Al Gharafa, alongside the return of Al Duhail midfielder Karim Boudiaf.
Similarly, the other teams in Group A are determined to ma
ke a strong start in the first two rounds, hoping to stay in the race and maintain their chances until the final stages.
The UAE national team is looking to regain the form that brought Emirati football into the spotlight during the 1990s. Under the leadership of Portuguese coach Paulo Bento, the team, led by Yahya Al Ghassani, will aim to secure one of the qualifying spots for the World Cup. The team made its only World Cup appearance in 1990 and reached the Asian playoff in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers, relies on experienced players like Al Wasl striker Caio Canedo, Shabab Al Ahli player Hareb Abdullah, goalkeeper Ali Khaseif, and Junior Ndai, who plays for Montpellier in France.
Source: Qatar News Agency