By Staff Reporter
Doha: Qatar national team head coach Julen Lopetegui has announced his final 26-player squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
The squad has been selected in accordance with FIFA regulations, which allow participating teams to register 26 players for the tournament.
The goalkeeping department will be led by Meshaal Barsham, alongside Mahmoud Abunada and Salah Zakaria.
The outfield players selected are Ahmed Al Janhi, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior, Ahmed Fathi, Ahmed Alaa, Tahseen Mohammed, Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Ayoub Al Aloui, Al Hashmi Al Hussein, Assim Madibo, Sultan Al Braik, Hassan Al Haydos, Jassem Jaber, Mohamed Al Mannai, Lucas Mendes, Karim Boudiaf, Issa Lai, Abdulaziz Hatem, Yusuf Abdurisag, Homam Ahmed and Mohammed Muntari.
Lopetegui trimmed his squad by two players following Qatar’s recent international friendly against the Republic of Ireland, which ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat. Goalkeeper Shehab Al Laithi and midfielder Rayan Al Ali were omitted from the final list.
Earlier in the preparation phase, the Spanish coach had also excluded seven players from the preliminary World Cup training camp squad, namely Sebastian Soria, Tarek Salman, Fahad Younis, Bassam Al Rawi, Mohammed Waad, Mubarak Shanan and Niall Mason.
Al Annabi are currently based in the United States for their final training camp ahead of the tournament. As part of their preparations, Qatar will play a final warm-up match against El Salvador in Los Angeles on June 6 before turning their full attention to the World Cup.
Qatar have been drawn in Group B alongside Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina in what promises to be a challenging campaign for the Asian champions.
The national team will begin their World Cup journey against Switzerland on June 13 in San Francisco before travelling to Vancouver to face co-hosts Canada on June 18. Qatar will conclude their group-stage fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24 in Seattle.
Lopetegui will be hoping his blend of experienced internationals and established stars can guide Qatar to a successful campaign as the nation prepares for its second appearance on football’s biggest stage.
