Qatar

Qatar are the reigning AFC Asian Cup champions, winning the 2019 and 2023 titles in succession, and the only nation to host a FIFA World Cup and be eliminated in the group stage without winning a single match.

The Annabi under coach Marquez Lopez play a possession-oriented, technically refined game, the product of an Aspire Academy system that has been developing players in structured environments since 2004. Akram Afif, the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Golden Ball winner, is Qatar’s most dangerous attacker: creative, direct, and comfortable carrying the ball under pressure. The defensive structure relies on coordination rather than individual brilliance, a reflection of the country’s coaching philosophy at all age levels.

Qatar’s 2022 World Cup hosting experience, while historically unprecedented for a nation of its size and footballing tradition, produced three defeats in the group stage: 0-2 to Ecuador, 1-3 to Senegal, and 0-2 to the Netherlands. It was the first time a host nation had been eliminated in the group stage since South Africa 2010. The 2023 AFC Asian Cup win, played on home turf in Qatar, was a direct and pointed response: the same players, the same system, a continental title.

Qatar’s path to further World Cups goes through AFC qualification, where they compete in the third and fourth round stages with the rest of Asia’s stronger nations. The 2023 Asian Cup final victory over Jordan, 3-1, with Afif scoring from a penalty, confirmed the team’s status as AFC’s dominant side heading into this cycle.

Qatar Standard Time is UTC+3 with no daylight saving. A 20:00 kickoff in Doha is 17:00 in London and 12:00 in New York. Check Qatar time for your local kickoff conversion.