Qatar are back in the big time. The hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ have punched their ticket to next year’s global showpiece in Canada, Mexico and USA after navigating Asian qualifying for the first time in their history.
A 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday ensured that Julen Lopetegui’s men topped Group A in the fourth round of AFC preliminaries for the FIFA World Cup 26™.
Qatar will aim to improve upon their inaugural performance at the global finals, where they lost all three of their group games and scored just one goal.
But their hopes have been restored and their fortunes greatly imprived by the arrival of Lopetegui in May.
The former Spain and Real Madrid coach took over the role from Luis Garcia after a poor start to Asian qualifying. The Qataris have since gone on a fine run under his leadership to make it through to the global finals.
This will be Lopetegui’s first time coaching a team at the World Cup. He led Spain to Russia 2018 but was famously dismissed on the eve of the tournament after it emerged he had signed a deal to take over Real Madrid after those finals.
“We aim to fulfil the dream of everyone in Qatar by qualifying for the World Cup and making our fans proud,” the Spaniard had said on the eve of the UAE match.
It’s fair to say Lopetegui and his team have delivered in style.
Qatar at the FIFA World Cup
First appearance: Qatar 2022
Appearances: 2 (2022, 2026)
Best result: Group stage (2022)
