Julen Lopetegui’s Official Squad for Qatar at the 2026 Fifa World Cup

The Qatar National Team has officially named the 26 players who will represent the country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Led by head coach Julen Lopetegui, the Asian side will look to take another step forward on the global stage and showcase the progress of Qatari football over the past decade.

The squad blends experienced internationals, established stars from the Qatar Stars League, and several players entering the tournament in excellent form. The team's main attacking threat will once again be Akram Afif, supported by key figures such as Almoez Ali and Edmílson Junior.

Goalkeepers

Salah Zakaria
Meshaal Barsham
Mahmoud Abunada

Defenders

Pedro Miguel
Sultan Al Brake
Al-Hashmi Al-Hussain
Ayoub Al-Alawi
Issa Laye
Lucas Mendes
Mohammed Waad
Niall Mason

Midfielders

Ahmed Fathi
Jassim Gaber
Assim Madibo
Abdulaziz Hatem
Karim Boudiaf
Mohammed Mannai

Forwards

Almoez Ali
Akram Afif
Tahsin Mohammed
Edmílson Junior
Ahmed Alaa
Hassan Al-Haydos
Mubarak Shannan
Mohammed Muntari
Yusuf Abdurisag

Player to Watch

The standout player for Qatar heading into the World Cup is once again Akram Afif. The Al Sadd star arrives as the most influential player in the squad thanks to his ability to create chances, provide assists, and score crucial goals.

Alongside him, experienced players such as Almoez Ali, Karim Boudiaf, Hassan Al-Haydos, and Meshaal Barsham will provide leadership and international experience to a team eager to compete with some of the world's best nations.

Julen Lopetegui’s First World Cup With Qatar

The appointment of Julen Lopetegui marked the beginning of a new era for the national team. The Spanish coach was brought in to strengthen a project focused on maintaining Qatar’s status among Asia’s top footballing nations while translating that growth onto the world stage.

Although Qatar gained valuable World Cup experience as hosts in 2022, the objective this time is to deliver a stronger performance and challenge for a place in the knockout rounds.

With a core group of players that has spent years together and a generation led by Akram Afif and Almoez Ali, the Qatari side believes it can emerge as one of the tournament’s surprise packages at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.