FIFA World Cup 2026: Can Asian champions Qatar reach the knockouts?
Qatar's national football team is preparing for their second World Cup appearance, aiming to advance beyond the group stage for the first time. Coach Julen Lopetegui emphasizes the importance of enjoying the experience while maintaining ambition. The team faces tough competition in Group B, including Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sees a potential opportunity against co-hosts Canada.
- ▪Qatar qualified for the World Cup for the first time on merit, marking a significant achievement for the nation.
- ▪They are placed in Group B alongside Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- ▪Coach Julen Lopetegui encourages his players to enjoy the tournament without feeling pressure.
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Sport|World Cup 2026FIFA World Cup 2026: Can Asian champions Qatar reach the knockouts?Al Jazeera speaks to Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui ahead of the World Cup, with a shot at knockouts within their grasp.ListenListen (7 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoAkram Afif helped Qatar qualify for football's World Cup on merit for the first time [File: Molly Darlington/Reuters]By Manasi PathakPublished On 3 Jun 20263 Jun 2026Previous World Cup appearances: One Best performance: Group stage (2022) First appearance: 2022 (Qatar) Top goal scorer: Mohammed Muntari (1) Most appearances: Abdelkarim Hassan, Boualem Khoukhi, Akram Afif (3 each) Player to watch: Almoez Ali FIFA world ranking: 55Four years on from…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Al Jazeera English.
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