Qatar look to maintain winning form in joint qualifiers

Doha, Qatar: Despite getting short time for preparation, Qatar are hoping to attain full readiness as they host Kuwait in the first leg of their FIFA...

Doha, Qatar: Despite getting short time for preparation, Qatar are hoping to attain full readiness as they host Kuwait in the first leg of their FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 joint qualifiers at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium tomorrow.

The team, which will return to action for the first time since retaining their Asian Cup crown last month, held a training session at Aspire Academy training pitch yesterday after head coach Marquez Lopez announced the 25-man squad for the double-header against Kuwait on Monday. Qatar’s away match against Kuwait is scheduled on March 26.            

With Hassan Al Haydos retired from international football, Qatar will also miss goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb and defender Pedro Miguel due to injury while Boualem Khoukhi, who was also the part of Asian Cup winning squad, is also not present in the team for the two matches.

Qatar won seven straight matches to claim back-to-back Asian titles beating Jordan 3-1 in the final on February 10. Al Annabi also claimed two consecutive victories to start their campaign in the second round of Preliminary Joint Qualification campaign on a flying note, beating Afghanistan 8-1 and India 3-0 in November.