Qatar National Team manager Julen Lopetegui has officially unveiled his 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
For Qatar, this tournament serves as a critical opportunity to redeem themselves following a disappointing performance on home soil in 2022. As the host nation, they suffered the setback of losing all three group-stage matches despite heavy investments. Since then, however, Qatar has quietly rebuilt its momentum, successfully defending its AFC Asian Cup title in 2023 and earning a spot in the World Cup through the qualification process for the first time in history.
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Lopetegui has opted for a blend of experience and continuity, retaining a core group of players from the 2022 squad. Key figures making the roster include defender Pedro Miguel, goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham, and midfielders Assim Madibo, Abdulaziz Hatem, and Karim Boudiaf. Much of the squad’s foundation remains rooted in the Aspire Academy, which has been instrumental in the team’s development over the past decade.
Despite this, questions remain regarding whether a squad heavily reliant on domestic league players can compete against the world’s elite. Recent stumbles, such as a surprising group-stage exit during the Arab Cup in December and the cancellation of high-profile friendly matches against Serbia and world champions Argentina in March, have left the team with limited exposure to top-tier international competition. These circumstances present a significant challenge for the former Real Madrid coach as he prepares to make an impact on the global stage.
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Optimism is beginning to rise, however, following a favorable draw for The Maroons. Set to take place from June 11 to July 19, the tournament will see Qatar compete in Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Their campaign begins against Switzerland in Santa Clara on June 13, followed by a match against Canada in Vancouver on June 18, before concluding the group stage against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24.
Notably, Qatar is also set to face Indonesia in the group stage of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, where both nations will compete in Group F alongside Japan and Thailand.
QATAR NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP
Goalkeepers: Salah Zakaria, Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham
Defenders: Hashmi Hussein, Ayoub Alawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Issa Laaye, Lucas Mendes, Sultan Al-Brake, Homam Al-Amin
Midfielders: Mohammed Al-Manai, Jassem Jaber, Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathi, Abdulaziz Hatem, Assim Madibo
Forwards: Tahseen Mohammed, Edmilson Junior, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Mohammed Muntari, Youssef Abdulrazzaq, Ahmed Alaa, Hassan Al-Haydos, Ahmed Al-Janahi
Summary
Qatar National Team manager Julen Lopetegui has announced his 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This tournament presents a redemption opportunity for Qatar after their disappointing 2022 performance, having since successfully defended their AFC Asian Cup title in 2023 and qualified for the World Cup for the first time through the regular process. The squad features a blend of experience and continuity, retaining a core group of players largely developed through the Aspire Academy.
Despite this, challenges remain regarding the team’s reliance on domestic players and limited exposure to top-tier international competition due to recent stumbles. Qatar has been drawn into a favorable Group B for the 2026 World Cup, facing Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia & Herzegovina in June. Furthermore, Qatar is also set to compete against Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand in Group F of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.