2026 World Cup: Qatar Coach Announces Final Squad

Doha: Julen Lopetegui, head coach of the Qatar national football team, announced the final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. According to Qatar News Agency, in line with FIFA regulations, the squad consists of 26 players. The goalkeepers selected are Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada and Salah Zakaria. The outfield players include 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. Two players were cut from the squad that faced the Republic of Ireland national football team in a friendly last Thursday, which Qatar lost 1-0: goalkeeper Shehab Al Laithi and midfielder Rayan Al Ali. Lopetegui had previously excluded seve n players from the preliminary World Cup training camp roster: Sebastian Soria, Tarek Salman, Fahad Younis, Bassam Al Rawi, Mohammed Waad, Mubarak Shanan and Niall Mason. Al Adaam are currently holding a training camp in the United States as part of their final preparations. The camp will include a second and final warm-up match against the El Salvador national football team on June 6 in Los Angeles. Qatar will compete in Group B alongside Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Qatar will open its World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 13 in San Francisco before traveling to Vancouver to face Canada on June 18. The team will conclude its group-stage matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24 in Seattle.