Qatar World Cup 2026 Squad — Players, Manager & Group

Qatar return — two years after hosting and determined to do better

Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup and lost all three group games without scoring a single goal. It was a painful experience that exposed the gap between the Qatari domestic league and world football. Two years later they are back as qualified participants rather than hosts and manager Julen Lopetegui has been tasked with making them more competitive.

Akram Afif — Qatar's best player and Asian Player of the Year

Akram Afif is Qatar's best player and one of the better players in the Asian game. The Al-Sadd forward won the Asian Player of the Year award and brings genuine technical quality and goalscoring ability that Qatar did not display in 2022. If Qatar are going to surprise anyone in Group B it will be through Afif's individual moments.

Julen Lopetegui — elite tactical knowledge, a squad with far less quality

Julen Lopetegui is a fascinating and slightly surprising choice as manager. The former Real Madrid and Spain manager has never managed at international level since his sacking by Spain in 2018. He brings elite level European tactical knowledge to a squad with significantly less quality than he has worked with before.

Group B — Qatar's best chance for a positive result

Group B is theoretically Qatar's best opportunity for a result. Canada are hosts and motivated. Switzerland are solid. But Bosnia have Dzeko and real quality. Qatar will need to be significantly better than they were in 2022 to take any points and qualification remains a very distant prospect.

Lopetegui appointment shows Qatar's ambition

The decision to appoint Lopetegui shows Qatar are serious about improving. They have the financial resources to attract a top level manager and the ambition to keep developing their football. Whether the players are ready to execute Lopetegui's ideas in the short time available is the key question.

A historic achievement — first nation to host and then qualify for the next World Cup

Qatar have already made history by becoming the first nation to host a World Cup and then qualify for the next one as a participant. Whatever happens in Group B that achievement deserves recognition.

Who is in Qatar's World Cup 2026 squad?

Full 26-man squad listed above including Akram Afif and Almoez Ali.

Who is Qatar's manager at World Cup 2026?

Julen Lopetegui, former Real Madrid and Spain manager.

What group are Qatar in at World Cup 2026?

Group B with Canada, Bosnia and Switzerland.

When do Qatar play their first World Cup game?

June 13 vs Switzerland at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia.

Did Qatar host the last World Cup?

Yes — Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup.