Four years ago, Qatar’s involvement in their very own World Cup was met with an avalanche of cynicism. Confined by political scrutiny off the pitch and paralysed by stage fright on it, the hosts crashed out with zero wins, leaving many to scoff that they simply didn’t belong at the elite table.
But fast forward four years and the narrative in Doha has transformed from defensive posturing to quiet vindication. For the first time in their history, the Maroon have qualified for a World Cup on sporting merit. Now guided by former Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui, the back-to-back Asian champions are no longer a novelty act but a hardened, deeply pragmatic tournament team arriving with a chip on their shoulder.
To understand the legacy of 2022, the country’s deep-rooted obsession with Spanish football coaching, and what constitutes a successful summer campaign, we sat down with Qatari football expert Sudesh Baniya on the Make Football Great Again podcast.
For Baniya, Qatar’s qualification journey has finally proved that they belong on the world stage, and under Lopetegui, they are fully prepared to win ugly.
- Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!
Getting to North America on merit wasn’t a seamless cruise for Qatar, but the emotionally charged manner of their qualification has instilled a fierce sense of pride. Fighting through the expanded AFC gauntlet, their ticket was officially punched on home soil.
“The journey wasn’t straightforward, but the fashion in which it ended brought a collective sense of: yeah, finally we did it. We showed we belong,” Baniya recalls. “The final matches were played in Doha, and the place in the World Cup was secured with a 2-1 win against the UAE. It was one of the most emotionally charged matches I’ve ever been in. The sheer emotion palpable in the stadium was incredible.”
The achievement has successfully banished the ghosts of their previous campaign. “In 2022, the three matches were probably the most nervous I’ve ever seen a team play. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. 2022 is beyond us now; the expectations this summer are that the team performs up to its true standards.”
View 5 ImagesBack-to-back Asian champions Qatar have reached the World Cup on merit for the very first time(Image: Getty Images)
To the outside world, Qatar hiring three Spanish managers in a row might look like a sudden obsession. In reality, it is the natural culmination of a footprint planted over two decades ago at the country’s multi-million-pound talent factory.
“It’s not sudden, it’s been a long time coming,” Baniya explains. “The Aspire Academy, built in 2005, develops players with a philosophy that mirrors the football Spain and Barcelona built their success on. A lot of the youth and local club coaches are already Spanish. Felix Sanchez was a youth coach at Barcelona before leading the national team.”
This deep-set tactical identity was famously highlighted by captain Hassan Al-Haydos after they successfully defended their Asian Cup title.
“Carlos Queiroz was signed after the 2022 World Cup to start the rebuild, but he was let go on the eve of the Asian Cup. Qatar won it anyway under Tintin Marquez, and Al-Haydos went straight onto a popular local TV show and said: ‘I think it worked out because we had a Spanish coach leading us.’ Building from the back and compensating for physical limitations with technicality is our entire blueprint. It borrows completely from Spain.”
View 5 ImagesQataris have a lot of love for Spanish football(Image: Getty Images)
If Qatar are to make a splash this summer, everything hinges on their undisputed talisman, Akram Afif. While his club form has fluctuated over the last two seasons, the Al Sadd forward remains a unique match-winner.
“You’ll hear a lot about him during the World Cup,” Baniya promises. “He’s not been at his absolute peak of powers recently, but one of the special powers in Afif’s catalogue is that he makes moments happen. He has that rare ability to grab a match by its throat and deliver on the biggest of stages. He’s flamboyant, takes players on 1v1, and provided he gets the proper supply up front, he is undoubtedly the man.”
View 5 ImagesAkram Afif (L) and Mohamed Manai (R) are two players to look out for(Image: Getty Images)
For an under-the-radar name to watch, Baniya flags a powerhouse in the middle of the park. “Keep an eye on 23-year-old midfielder Mohammed Manai. He has a stellar physical presence in midfield, which is vital because Qatar has traditionally struggled against physical sides. He’s coming off a massive domestic season and has really made his mark on Lopetegui.”
Former Wolves and West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui was parachuted into the hot seat as a last-minute appointment to rescue a faltering qualifying campaign. While he has won just two of his 12 matches in charge, the fanbase retains total confidence in him.
“There’s no room to be doubtful about Lopetegui because those two wins came in the most crucial periods,” Baniya says. “The first was a 1-0 win against Asian powerhouses Iran, and the second was the 2-1 win over the UAE to qualify. He passed his first step with flying colours, and the country trusts him.”
View 5 ImagesJulen Lopetegui is playing to his strengths(Image: Getty Images)
Tactically, West Ham and Wolves fans will recognise the system immediately. “Lopetegui is highly pragmatic and risk-averse,” Baniya says. “His brand of football hasn’t been very exciting, but it perfectly suits the resources Qatar currently has. Don’t expect tiki-taka passing football. Defensively, they are a well-drilled unit that relies heavily on grinding out 1-0 wins and hitting on fast counter-attacks from out wide.”
Qatar finds themselves in Group B alongside Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. While casual observers might notice the absence of a traditional global heavyweight, Baniya insists getting out of the group won’t be easy.
“The first targeted goal for Qatar is simply to secure a single win,” he notes. “They didn’t manage that in 2022. Pulling off a result against these sides is completely possible if they play to their defensive strengths. With the expanded 48-team simulation allowing the best third-place sides to qualify for the Round of 32, Qatar will be aiming to accumulate enough points to sneak through.
“If they get their mindset right and rely on their counter-striking stability, reaching the next round is a very realistic dream.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL packageThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£43£35SkyGet the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.