2026-06-06
Goalless draw with El Salvador in final warm-up
Qatar finished preparations without a win in 2026 but with a tighter defensive shape.
Group B · AFC · FIFA #55 · 1501/1
Qatar
1421Having qualified on merit for the first time after the 2022 home embarrassment, Lopetegui's Asian Cup-winning core of Afif, Ali and Al-Haydos must overturn a winless 2026 to be competitive in Group B.
Coach Julen Lopetegui (Spanish) · since May 2025
Matches
Key players
- Akram AfifLW · Al Sadd
The man who makes Qatar tick; 127 caps, 40 goals and two Asian Cup titles
- Hassan Al-HaydosAM · Al Sadd
35-year-old captain with 188 caps at Qatar's first qualified World Cup
- Almoez AliST · Al Duhail
All-time top scorer with 60 international goals
- Meshaal BarshamGK · Al Sadd
First-choice goalkeeper
- Boualem KhoukhiCB/DM · Al Sadd
Veteran defensive utility man and leader
Injuries / doubts
- No major injuries reported; GK Shehab Al Laithi and MF Rayan Al Ali were the final cuts from the preliminary squad
Recent form
| 2026-06-06 | El Salvador | 0-0 D | Friendly (Los Angeles) |
| 2026-05-28 | Republic of Ireland (a) | 0-1 L | Friendly |
| 2026-03-26 | Tunisia | 0-3 L | Friendly |
News
2026-06-02
Lopetegui finalises Qatar's 26-player World Cup squad
Al-Haydos named captain as two players were cut after the Ireland friendly.
2026-05-28
Qatar slip to 1-0 defeat in Dublin
A narrow loss to Ireland extended Qatar's winless 2026 ahead of the finals.