Squad, Afif, Lopetegui & Group B
Qatar at World Cup 2026: Asian champions under Julen Lopetegui, led by Akram Afif and Almoez Ali in Group B. Full squad, key players and predictions.
Qatar
Al-Annabi · AFC · Group B
Everything at a glance
- Nickname
- Al-Annabi "The Maroon"
- Confederation
- AFC
- FIFA Ranking
- Around 50th Peaked at record-high 34th in 2024
- Head Coach
- Julen Lopetegui Spain
- Captain
- Hassan Al-Haydos Record cap-holder; reportedly came out of retirement in 2025
- World Cup Appearances
- 2 2022 (as hosts) and 2026
- Best Finish
- Group stage
- Group
- Group B Canada, Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina
The most heavily invested footballing project on the planet, back on merit.
Qatar are the two-time reigning champions of Asia and one of the most heavily invested footballing projects on the planet. After hosting the 2022 World Cup — where they made history for the wrong reasons, becoming the first host nation to lose all three group games — Qatar earned their place at 2026 the hard way, through the AFC qualifying gauntlet. This is their first World Cup reached on merit rather than as hosts.
The squad is anchored by the spine of the team that conquered the Asian Cup in 2019 and 2023, headlined by playmaker Akram Afif and striker Almoez Ali. In 2025 Qatar made a statement appointment, bringing in experienced Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui, a former Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves and West Ham boss, to elevate the side from continental dominance toward global competitiveness.
This is their first World Cup reached on merit rather than as hosts, qualifying through AFC 2026 qualifiers.
The test case for whether sustained investment can close the gap.
Qatar are the test case for whether sustained investment and a homegrown core can close the gap to the world’s best. They dominate Asia — back-to-back Asian Cups is no small feat — yet were humbled on the global stage in 2022. The redemption arc is compelling: same nucleus of players, now battle-hardened, with a serial-winning European coach and a point to prove. Akram Afif’s record-breaking creativity and Almoez Ali’s goalscoring give them genuine flair, making them far more than makeweights.
Same nucleus of players, now battle-hardened, with a serial-winning European coach and a point to prove.
The bar, and the dream
Qatar’s primary goal is simple but historic: avoid a repeat of 2022 and win their first-ever World Cup point — ideally their first win. In a balanced Group B, they are likely the fourth seed on paper but are well-organised and dangerous on the counter. The expanded format means even a third-place finish could be enough to advance, which is not beyond them if they can take points off Bosnia and frustrate Canada or Switzerland. Realistically, escaping the group would be a landmark achievement; a competitive showing with at least one positive result is the baseline expectation.
The realistic route
In the expanded format, even a third-place finish could be enough to advance. If they can take points off Bosnia and frustrate Canada or Switzerland, escaping the group — a landmark achievement — is within reach.
Lopetegui’s squad
Projection based on recent squads and reporting; subject to change.
Goalkeepers
3- Mahmoud Abunada
- Meshaal Barsham
- Salah Zakaria
Defenders
7- Al Hashemi Al Hussein
- Ayub Al Alawi
- Hommam Al Amin
- Sultan Al Brake
- Boualem Khoukhi
- Lucas Mendes
- Pedro Miguel
Midfielders
8- Karim Boudiaf
- Ahmed Fathi
- Jassem Gaber
- Abdulaziz Hatem
- Issa Lay
- Assim Madibo
- Mohammed Manaai
- Tahsin Mohammed
Forwards
8- Youssef Abdelrisaq
- Akram Afif
- Ahmed Alaaeldin
- Hassan Al Haydos
- Almoez Ali
- Ahmed Al Janhi
- Edmilson Junior
- Mohammed Muntari
★ Likely starters. Projection based on recent squads and reporting; subject to change.
The names that decide it
Silky, creative, two-footed; a master of dribbling and final-ball delivery. The creative heartbeat and biggest individual threat in the squad. Fact: He reportedly provided 11 assists in 2026 World Cup qualifying, the most of any player in the campaign, and was a star of Qatar’s Asian Cup triumphs.
Sharp finisher, strong in the box, deadly on the counter. Qatar’s main goal threat and a serial scorer at continental level. Fact: He set a record by scoring nine goals at the 2019 Asian Cup and reportedly led 2026 Asian qualifying scoring with 12 goals; he now captains his club Al-Duhail.
Experienced, intelligent forward/midfielder and natural leader. The team’s record cap-holder and on-field general. Fact: Reportedly came out of international retirement in 2025 in hopes of leading Qatar at the World Cup.
Composed, versatile centre-back comfortable stepping into midfield. A defensive mainstay and one of the few who played every minute of Qatar’s 2022 campaign. Fact: A long-serving pillar of the back line.
Agile, commanding shot-stopper. Likely first-choice keeper and a key figure if Qatar are to defend deep. Fact: Established himself as Qatar’s number one during their Asian Cup successes.
Breakout Player
Homam Ahmed (Defender) — A modern attacking full-back/wing-back with the engine to support Afif down the flank. On the global stage, his overlapping runs and defensive growth could see him emerge as one of Qatar’s most improved performers under Lopetegui’s structured system.
Most Underrated Player
Karim Boudiaf (Midfielder) — The unglamorous destroyer who shields Qatar’s defence and lets Afif create freely. His positional discipline and ball-winning are exactly the qualities Qatar will need against superior opposition, even if he rarely grabs the headlines.
Stay organised, frustrate stronger sides, and strike on the counter.
Qatar built their Asian success on a cohesive, well-drilled team that has trained together for years, often using a back three or compact 4-3-3 that prioritises defensive solidity and quick transitions. Afif is the free-roaming creator, while Almoez Ali stretches defences in behind. Under Lopetegui, expect added tactical sophistication and pressing structure, though the core identity remains: stay organised, frustrate stronger sides, and strike on the counter. The weakness is physicality and pace against elite European opponents.
By the numbers
Attack: Afif and Almoez Ali provide real quality and chemistry.
Midfield: Functional and disciplined rather than dominant.
Defense: Cohesive and well-coached, but can be exposed by top-level pace.
Goalkeeping: Reliable in Barsham.
Depth: Strong core, limited high-end alternatives outside the domestic league.
Experience: Asian Cup pedigree, but only one (chastening) World Cup.
Brief, painful, and building toward something better.
Qatar’s World Cup history is brief and, so far, painful. As hosts in 2022, they became the first host nation ever to lose all three group matches, falling to Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands and exiting without a point. It was a sobering measure of the gap between continental dominance and the global elite. Qatar 2026 marks their second appearance and, crucially, their first earned through qualification rather than automatic host status — making a positive result the clear historical priority.
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2022
Hosts — and the first to lose all three group games
Fell to Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands; became the first host nation in history to exit the group stage without a point.
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2026
First World Cup earned on merit
Qualified through the AFC qualifying gauntlet — crucially, their first appearance earned rather than granted as hosts.
Two Asian Cups, nine goals, and a record nobody wanted to set
Hosted before ever qualifying
Qatar are the only nation to host a World Cup (2022) before ever qualifying for one on merit.
First host nation to lose all three
They became the first host nation in history to lose all three of their group matches.
Back-to-back Asian Cup champions
Qatar are back-to-back AFC Asian Cup champions (2019 and 2023).
Almoez Ali’s Asian Cup record
Almoez Ali scored a record nine goals at the 2019 Asian Cup.
Afif’s assist record
Akram Afif set an assist record at the 2019 Asian Cup with 10 assists.
Lopetegui takes charge
Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui, who has managed Real Madrid and Spain, took charge in 2025.
Al-Haydos reverses retirement
Captain Hassan Al-Haydos reportedly reversed his retirement to chase a World Cup farewell.
The Aspire Academy pipeline
Much of Qatar’s core developed through the country’s centralized Aspire Academy system.
Akram Afif is one of Asia’s most watchable creators, capable of moments of magic.
- The redemption story — Asian champions seeking to erase the memory of three 2022 defeats.
- Akram Afif is one of Asia’s most watchable creators, capable of moments of magic.
- A serial-winning European coach in Julen Lopetegui shaping an ambitious project.
- Few teams have a clearer single mission: win that elusive first World Cup point.
Group-stage exit — with first-ever World Cup point(s) secured.
Qatar are likely the outsiders of Group B, but they are organised, experienced together and dangerous on the break. Expect them to be more competitive than in 2022 and finally claim a World Cup point — perhaps against Bosnia — while most likely falling short of the knockout rounds.
