Team Qatar eye historic World Cup breakthrough
DOHA: Qatar will head into the FIFA World Cup 2026 with hopes of making history as they prepare for their second appearance on football’s biggest stage.
The Asian champions begin their Group B campaign against Switzerland on June 13 in San Francisco before facing co-hosts Canada on June 18 in Vancouver. Qatar will complete the group stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24.
Four years after making their World Cup debut as hosts in 2022, Qatar arrive in North America with greater experience, confidence and belief. Having learned valuable lessons from their maiden appearance, Al Annabi are targeting a first-ever place in the knockout rounds.
A major strength for the squad is continuity. Fourteen players from the 2022 World Cup remain part of the current roster, bringing experience of performing under the intense pressure of football’s biggest tournament.
Captain Hassan Al Haydos believes that experience could prove decisive. The veteran midfielder said players who have already lived through a World Cup understand the demands of the competition and are better equipped to handle high-pressure moments against elite opponents.
Unlike 2022, Qatar will also compete without the burden of hosting expectations. The team arrives with added confidence after securing qualification through the Asian qualifiers for the first time in its history, a journey that included a dramatic playoff victory over the United Arab Emirates.
Head coach Julen Lopetegui has described qualification as a dream achieved and believes it should inspire the squad to pursue another milestone. With confidence high and expectations growing, Qatar will aim to turn potential into history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
