Qatar’s new national coach announces squad for Gulf Cup

DOHA: Spanish coach Luis Garcia has announced the squad for the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, which will take place in Kuwait from December 21 to January 3.

The Qatar Football Association announced the appointment of Garcia as the new head coach. He replaced compatriot Marquez Lopez.

Qatar is placed in Group A of the tournament, alongside hosts Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE, while Group B comprises defending champions Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Garcia has called up a squad of 29 players for Gulf 26, including four goalkeepers: Marwan Sharif (Al Ahli), Mohammed Al Bakri (Al Wakrah), Meshaal Barsham (Al Sadd), and Salah Zakaria (Al Duhail).

Squad: Ahmed Al Rawi and Hazem Ahmed (Al Rayyan); Sultan Al Brake, Rashid Al Abdullah, Almoez Ali, Mohammed Ayash, Abdullah Al Ahrak, and Homam Al Ameen (Al Duhail); Ibrahim Al Hassan and Mohammed Khalid (Calahorra, Spain); Abdulrahman Mostafa and Bahaa Al Laithi (Al Ahli); Lucas Mendes (Al Wakrah); Akram Afif, Youssef Abdulrazzaq, Tarek Salman, and Mustafa Tarek (Al Sadd); Ahmed Fathy and Jassem Jaber (Al Arabi); Rabah Bou Safi, Assim Madibo, Abdullah Youssef, and Mohammed Muntari (Al Gharafa); Naif Al Hadhrami (Al Shahaniya); and Hashmi Al Hussein (Alcorcon, Spain).

Qatar will kick off their Gulf 26 campaign against the UAE on December 21 at Jaber Al Mubarak Stadium, before facing Oman on December 24 at the same venue.

The team will conclude the group stage with a match against Kuwait on December 27 at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium.