QAT
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP B · POT 3

Qatar
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Julen Lopetegui · Spanish head coach since 2025. Former Real Madrid, Spain, Sevilla, Wolves and West Ham boss — Europa League winner with Sevilla. First AFC posting.
MD1 Jun 13 vs Switzerland MD2 Jun 18 vs Canada MD3 Jun 24 vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
1th World Cup appearance · best finish: Group stage (2022)
26
Squad size
28.9
Avg. age
1 / 26
Overseas-based
13 / 13
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Julen Lopetegui's (Spanish) Qatar announced their final 26 on June 1 (trimmed from 34→35→28→26). This is Qatar's second consecutive World Cup (after hosting in 2022, where they finished with 0 points). They qualified through AFC qualifying — their first standard-route qualification.

Spine: captain Hassan Al-Haydos (Al-Sadd, all-time leader with 185 caps and 41 goals) + Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail, all-time top scorer with 55 goals) + Akram Afif (Al-Sadd, 2024 Asian Footballer of the Year). QSL-heavy squad with naturalised players (Pedro Miguel, Khoukhi, Boudiaf).

Group B opponents: Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia. June 13 vs SUI (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium) → June 18 vs CAN (Vancouver Stadium) → June 24 vs BIH (Seattle Stadium). After the 0-point hosting humiliation in 2022, a single win to restore credibility is the realistic target.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Lopetegui's preferred 4-3-3. Asian Footballer of the Year Afif on the left, all-time top scorer Almoez Ali at No.9, Edmilson Junior right. Boudiaf anchors, Hatem and Madibo as 8s. Veteran CB pair Khoukhi + Pedro Miguel.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

10
CAM · FW
Hassan Al-Haydos
Al-Sadd · 35
185 caps · 41G WC: 2022
Captain & all-time caps leader (185)
CAPTAIN
19
ST · FW
Almoez Ali
Al-Duhail · 29
115 caps · 55G WC: 2022
All-time top scorer (55 goals)
ACE
11
LW · FW
Akram Afif
Al-Sadd · 29
124 caps · 39G WC: 2022
2024 Asian Footballer of the Year
16
CB · DF
Boualem Khoukhi
Al-Sadd · 35
115 caps · 20G WC: 2022
2019 Asian Cup MVP
12
CDM · MF
Karim Boudiaf
Al-Duhail · 35
117 caps · 5G WC: 2022
Midfield linchpin (117 caps)
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 9
MF MIDFIELDERS 5
FW FORWARDS 9
GROUP B

GROUP B.

CAN
Canada
POT 1
SUI
Switzerland
POT 2
QAT
Qatar
POT 3
BIH
Bosnia and Herzegovina
POT 4
Sat, Jun 13
Switzerland vs Qatar
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium · Santa Clara, CA
Second consecutive World Cup (after hosting in 2022). Pot 2 Switzerland (Akanji, Xhaka) await — the 2023 Asian Cup champions look to leverage their organisation.
View lineups →
MD1
Thu, Jun 18
Canada vs Qatar
Vancouver Stadium · Vancouver
Vancouver clash vs hosts Canada. Containing Davies' pace tests the 2022 World Cup hosts — a knockout-or-bust moment.
View lineups →
MD2
Wed, Jun 24
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar
Seattle Stadium · Seattle, WA
Group decider in Seattle vs 40-year-old Edin Džeko's Bosnia. The final chance to redeem the 0-point 2022 home tournament humiliation.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group B
  1. Round of 32 Jul 02 · Vancouver vs 3rd place (E/F/G/I/J)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 07 · Vancouver vs Winner of Match 87
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Kansas City vs Winner of Match 95
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 99
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
Runners-up, Group B
  1. Round of 32 Jun 28 · Inglewood vs Runners-up Group A
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Houston vs Winner of Match 75
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 89
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
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