Doha, Qatar – All eyes will be on Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium tonight as Julen Lopetegui takes charge of the Qatar national team for the first time in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Iran — one of Asia’s most formidable footballing sides. Lopetegui, the former manager of Spain and Real Madrid, becomes the fourth coach to lead Qatar in their ongoing qualification campaign. Qatar, who made their World Cup debut as hosts in 2022, are now seeking to qualify through the standard route for the first time.
The journey began under Carlos Queiroz, followed by Marquez Lopez, who led Qatar to a second consecutive AFC Asian Cup title. After a brief stint by assistant coach Luis Garcia, Lopetegui was brought in to stabilize the side and revive their World Cup hopes. Currently sitting fourth in Group A of the third round with 10 points, Qatar face a must-win situation. With only two matches remaining, they must maintain or improve their position to advance to the next round of Asian qualifiers. Kyrgyzstan, close behind with six points, pose a potential threat. Their opponents, Iran, have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, topping the group with 20 points from eight matches. Despite this, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei stressed that the match remains significant.
“We’re focused on improving our FIFA ranking,” said Ghalenoei. “This game is vital as we look to head into the World Cup with the best possible standing.”
Iran will be without key players Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh due to injuries, but Ghalenoei is confident in the depth of his squad.
“All our players are like soldiers, ready to step up,” he said.
For Qatar, the stakes are far higher. Speaking at his first pre-match press conference, Lopetegui said:
“This is a challenge, and we are ready for it. Iran are tough — they’ve already qualified — but we’ve studied them and will focus on our strengths.”
Despite having limited time with the squad following the domestic season, the Spaniard expressed confidence in the team’s readiness.
“The training camp was productive. I trust the players’ abilities, and our goal is clear: to win and move forward in the qualifiers. The fans’ support will be vital.”
Qatar star Akram Afif echoed his coach’s determination and called on fans to fill the stadium.
“It’s our final qualifier at home, and our goal is to win,” said Afif. “We’ll go into the game united — the fans’ dreams are our dreams.”
Iran striker Mehdi Taremi, fresh from a Champions League campaign with Inter Milan, predicted an intense encounter.
“These games are always decided by small details. Qatar are strong and have won the last two Asian Cups. It will be exciting.”
As Qatar fight to keep their World Cup dream alive and Iran seek to polish their credentials ahead of 2026, tonight’s clash promises drama, determination, and high stakes on both sides.