Qatar returns to the World Cup stage in 2026 with a point to prove, leaving behind the burden of hosting and embracing a fresh start under Julen Lopetegui. The 2022 edition was a nightmare for the Maroons, who failed to collect a single point in front of their home fans, but this time they arrive as underdogs in a group that offers hope for a maiden knockout stage appearance.
Preparation has been far from ideal. The ongoing US-Iran war forced the cancellation of vital friendlies against Serbia and Argentina in March, robbing Lopetegui of critical minutes to drill his squad. With the Spanish coach only appointed in May 2025, Qatar managed just one win in 11 outings before the warm-up matches, deepening concerns about their readiness.
Qualification itself was a nervy affair. Qatar finished a distant fourth in a six-team main qualifying group, conceding 24 goals in 10 games with a goal difference of minus seven. They scraped through the playoffs, drawing 0-0 in Oman before a 2-1 home victory over the United Arab Emirates sealed their ticket, leveraging home advantage and a forgiving schedule.
Lopetegui is expected to implement a 4-2-3-1 formation, prioritizing defensive solidity after the chaotic qualifying campaign. The plan is to absorb pressure and strike on the counter, with set pieces identified as a primary weapon. Having analyzed the 2022 collapse—where they conceded early against Ecuador and never recovered—the coaching staff has worked tirelessly on tightening the backline and instilling a more pragmatic approach.
For Lopetegui, this tournament carries personal significance. “Life owed me a World Cup,” he remarked after securing qualification, referencing his bitter pre-tournament sacking as Spain manager in 2018. After stints with Wolves and West Ham, the 59-year-old sees Qatar as an opportunity to reshape his legacy. “We are aware of the magnitude of the responsibility placed upon us,” he added. “We will spare no effort to make the fans proud.”
The attack will flow through Akram Afif, the talismanic forward who lit up the 2023 Asian Cup with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final celebrated by flashing playing cards hidden in his socks. Afif’s European adventures with Villarreal and Sporting Gijón fizzled out, but back home he remains Qatar’s most potent threat. After a subdued 2022 World Cup, he is determined to make his mark on the global stage this time.
In midfield, 22-year-old Mohamed Al-Mannai is one to watch. The Tunisian-born dynamo adds physicality and versatility, capable of operating anywhere from a holding role to a more advanced position. His breakout season on loan at Al-Shamal earned him the Qatari Stars League’s Under-23 Player of the Season award, and Lopetegui has taken notice of his rapid development.
The squad’s unsung hero is Boualem Khoukhi, the 36-year-old defender who has amassed over 100 caps and 21 international goals, often while deployed further up the pitch. His experience and adaptability make him a manager’s dream, and this World Cup represents his last chance to shine at the highest level.
Qatar’s Group D campaign begins on June 13 against Switzerland in San Francisco, a noon kickoff that will test their defensive resolve. They then face Canada in Vancouver on June 18 before wrapping up the group stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24. With a balanced but winnable set of opponents, Lopetegui’s men must capitalize on their counterattacking blueprint to avoid an early exit.
Fan support will be limited due to Qatar’s tiny population and lack of a diaspora in North America, but the folk song “Shoomilah” will surely echo in the stands whenever the Maroons take the field. The geopolitical backdrop adds another layer: Qatar remains a key US ally, exemplified by the $400m luxury jet gifted to President Trump, yet the Iran conflict has strained infrastructure and image, with retaliatory strikes hitting Qatari soil.
As Lopetegui fine-tunes his setup, the overriding mission is clear: erase the embarrassment of 2022 and validate the progress supposedly made since that chastening experience. If Afif finds his typical rhythm and the defense holds firm, Qatar might just pull off a surprise or two. Otherwise, another group-stage vanishing act could leave the program searching for answers yet again.
With lessons learned and a tactical rethink in place, Qatar enters its second consecutive World Cup not as hosts but as a more humble, defensively-minded unit. Whether that shift translates into historic results remains to be seen, but for Lopetegui and his seasoned core, it’s now or never.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.