Russia clash marks Qatar’s last tune-up before qualifiers

DOHA: Qatar’s national football team has completed its final preparations for Sunday’s friendly match against Russia at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, a key step in their build-up to the fourth round of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Under Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui, the squad focused on tactical and technical drills during training, as the coaching staff continues to fine-tune lineups ahead of next month’s playoff stage.

Defender Ahmed Suhail described the match as “a valuable opportunity” to sharpen the team’s readiness, urging fans to show their support. Forward Ahmed Alaa echoed the sentiment, calling the clash against Russia a crucial part of Qatar’s preparations.

The friendly will be Qatar’s second outing of the September international break, following a 2-2 draw with Bahrain earlier this week. Lopetegui is still experimenting with combinations as he looks to settle on a starting eleven.

Russia, ranked 35th in the world, comes into the tie after a goalless draw with Jordan. The two teams last met a year ago in a 1-1 draw, while Qatar edged their 2016 encounter 2-1.

Qatar, ranked 53rd, will face the UAE and Oman in Group A of the Asian playoff round, hosted in Doha from October 8–14, while Group B—featuring Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia—will be held in Riyadh. Both hosts will be aiming for strong momentum ahead of the qualifiers.(QNA)