Coach Julen Lopetegui Leads Qatar to Second Consecutive World Cup
Qatar joins eight other Asian teams in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, with coach Julen Lopetegui praising his team's achievement.
“I've won many titles, but this experience with Qatar is truly special...”
Qatar's historic win over the United Arab Emirates has secured their spot in the World Cup Qualifier, with coach Julen Lopetegui hailing the achievement as “truly special.” The 2-1 victory in Doha marked a significant milestone for the team.
Goals from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel in the second half propelled Qatar to the top of Group A in the fourth phase of Asia's qualifiers, surpassing the UAE and Oman. This win follows a 0-0 draw with Oman, showcasing Qatar's consistency.
Qatar's qualification adds to their experience from the 2022 World Cup, where they hosted the tournament. Coach Lopetegui's team joins an elite group of Asian teams, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Jordan, that have qualified for the World Cup.
“We made history and entered through the grand gate,” said the former goalkeeper, who led Sevilla to the Europa League title in 2020. “The dream has come true.”
“I've won many titles, but this experience with Qatar is truly special. We must enjoy what we've achieved. Now we'll celebrate and recover physically. We went through some tough days leading up to this match.”
🗣️ "I'm very happy for my players and the fans... We achieved a big dream!"
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) October 14, 2025
🇶🇦 Qatar Head Coach Julen Lopetegui's reaction to securing @FIFAWorldCup qualification!#Qatar | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/mTgKREn4nl
Qatar will participate in a second consecutive FIFA World Cup, following their debut as hosts in the 2022 tournament. Despite being eliminated in the group stage, the team has now qualified for the 2026 World Cup through competitive means, marking a significant milestone in their football history.
The team's qualification was sealed after a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates, which earned them first place in Group A of the fourth round of qualifiers. This followed an earlier 0-0 draw with Oman, showcasing Qatar's determination and resilience in their World Cup campaign under coach Julen Lopetegui.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia secured the last two Asian berths for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Qatar topped Group A with a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates, while Saudi Arabia claimed the top spot in Group B ahead of Iraq.
The victories mark a significant milestone for both teams, joining Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Qatar in the tournament. Qatar's qualification is particularly notable, as it's their first time securing a spot through the qualifiers.
“This means a lot to us,” said Qatar midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem, reflecting on the team's achievement. “It's the first time Qatar qualifies for the World Cup through the qualifiers. It's a reward for all of us,” he added, highlighting the team's hard work and dedication.
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