Qatar's Final Squad Unveiled for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Qatar national team head coach Julen Lopetegui has officially unveiled his final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the host nation prepares to kick off its tournament journey in North America. The announcement comes as the team wraps up its final preparations in the United States ahead of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In strict adherence to FIFA regulations, the roster features 26 players, comprising three goalkeepers and 23 outfield players. The goalkeeping trio consists of Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, and Salah Zakaria.

The outfield selection blends experienced veterans with emerging talent. Key figures include captain Hassan Al Haydos, star forward Akram Afif, and veteran striker Almoez Ali. The squad also features a mix of domestic league stalwarts and players based abroad, including Edmilson Junior, Lucas Mendes, and Pedro Miguel. The full list of outfield players reads: Ahmed Al Janhi, Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Ahmed Fathi, Ahmed Alaa, Tahseen Mohammed, Boualem Khoukhi, Ayoub Al Aloui, Al Hashmi Al Hussein, Assim Madibo, Sultan Al Braik, Hassan Al Haydos, Jassem Jaber, Mohamed Al Mannai, Karim Boudiaf, Issa Lai, Abdulaziz Hatem, Yusuf Abdurisag, Homam Ahmed, Mohammed Muntari, and Lucas Mendes.

Final Cuts and Preparations

The final roster reflects recent adjustments following a 1-0 friendly loss to the Republic of Ireland last Thursday. Goalkeeper Shehab Al Laithi and midfielder Rayan Al Ali were the two players cut from the squad that faced the Irish side. This decision follows an earlier round of exclusions from the preliminary training camp, where Lopetegui left out seven players: Sebastian Soria, Tarek Salman, Fahad Younis, Bassam Al Rawi, Mohammed Waad, Mubarak Shanan, and Niall Mason.

Currently, the Qatar national team, known as "Al Adaam," is conducting a training camp in the United States. Their schedule includes a crucial final warm-up match against El Salvador on June 6 in Los Angeles, serving as the last tune-up before the tournament begins.

Group Stage Outlook

Qatar has been drawn into Group B, a challenging group that also includes Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The defending Asian champions will open their campaign on June 13 in San Francisco against Switzerland. They will then travel to Vancouver for a match against co-host Canada on June 18, before concluding their group stage fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24 in Seattle.

As the squad finalizes its preparations in Los Angeles, the focus now shifts to translating their training form into competitive success on the world stage.