Queiroz names Qatar squad for World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers
Doha: Head coach Carlos Queiroz has named a 26-man Qatar squad to face Afghanistan and India for this month’s FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
The Asian champions will play Afghanistan at the Khalifa International Stadium on November 16, and then take on India in an away game at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar on November 21 in the first two of their Group A games. The group also includes Kuwait. The preparatory training of Al Annabi began yesterday at Aspire.
Veteran Portuguese coach Queiroz has ringed in several changes to the squad that finished runners-up at the Jordan International Quad Championship in Amman last month. Al Rayyan teenager Ahmed al-Rawi has found a place in the squad, while Lucas Mendes is named once again, after being left out of the final squad last time, reportedly due to registration issues. Pedro Miguel is also included, despite being out of action for his club Al Sadd due to injury.
After Qatar’s first two matches, they qualification campaign will resume after the AFC Asian Cup which will be held at home from January 12 to February 10, 2024. Queiroz’s side will meet Kuwait on March 21, 2024, before they play their GCC opponents again in the return leg on March 26. Qatar’s second match against Afghanistan is set for June 6, before the game against India five days later.
A total of 36 teams divided into nine groups will be seen in action in the second round. All nine group winners and the respective runners-up will advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying, and at the same time seal their places at the 2027 Asian Cup.
The draw for the third round of the global showpiece in 2026 will be conducted in 2024, where the 18 teams will be divided into three groups of six; the top two from each group will qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Meanwhile, tickets for Qatar’s match against Afghanistan will be on sale at QFA’s website from today. Ticket prices are set at QR10, QR30, and QR50. Fans with special needs will be able to request their tickets via a dedicated e-mail address: accessibilityqfa.qa
Qatar Squad: Goalkeepers: Fahad Younes (Al Rayyan), Meshaal Barsham (Al Sadd), Salah Zakaria (Al Duhail), Yousef Hassan (Al Gharafa)
Defenders: Bassam al-Rawi (Al Rayyan), Boualem Khoukhi, Tariq Salman, Pedro Miguel (Al Sadd), Homam al-Amin (Al Gharafa), Yousef Ayman (Al Duhail), Hazem Ahmed, Lucas Mendez (Al Wakrah)
Midfielders: Abdullah al-Marafi, Ahmed Fathi, Jassem Jaber (Al Arabi), Karim Boudiaf (Al Duhail), Hassan al-Haydos, Mustafa Meshaal, Mohamed Waad (Al Sadd)
Forwards: Akram Afif, Yousef Abdulrazaq (Al Sadd), Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al Gharafa), Almoez Ali, Mohamed Muntari (Al Duhail), Ahmed al-Rawi, Tamim Mansour (Al Rayyan)
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