Afif and Almoez to spearhead Qatar’s 26-player squad for FIFA World Cup

Doha, Qatar: Akram Afif and Almoez Ali will spearhead Qatar’s attack at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after head coach Julen Lopetegui named a final 26-man squad for the football showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico combining experience, continuity and proven attacking quality for the Asian champions’ latest global challenge.

The Qatar Football Association announced the squad in a social media post showing Lopetegui walking across a desert backdrop, with pictures of the players and their names erupting from the sand. tr-sport.click

The selection keeps the core of the side that has matured through continental success, with Qatar continuing to rely on long-standing partnerships across all areas of the pitch. They aim to improve on their 2022 World Cup debut, when they exited at the group stage after three defeats, with a knockout stage place as their first target in North America.

Qatar begin their Group B campaign against Switzerland on June 13, before facing co-hosts Canada on June 19, and Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24, all fixtures that will test their progress in a demanding group.

Afif, two-time Asian Player of the Year, remains Qatar’s creative hub, operating between the lines and driving attacking transitions with quality.

Almoez, Qatar’s all-time leading scorer, continues to be one of the main focal points in attack, with his movement and finishing central to the team’s offensive structure.

الأخبارA tournament of firsts: FIFA World Cup 2026 poised to make historyDoha, Qatar: The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to become the most significant edition in the tournament’s history, introducing a series of structural changes and record-setting ach...فتح →

Veteran Hassan Al Haydos, who captained Qatar to back-to-back Asian Cup triumphs, features in the squad adding leadership and experience to a group built on familiarity.

Qatar’s most-capped player remains an influential figure in the dressing room, having returned to the setup at Lopetegui’s request during World Cup qualifiers to provide stability in a high-pressure tournament environment.

Mohammed Muntari is also included, with the forward holding a unique place in Qatar’s World Cup history as their only goalscorer at the tournament, having struck against Senegal in 2022.

His inclusion offers a physical attacking option and a different dimension in the final third, particularly in tight matches. The 19-year-old winger Tahsin Mohammed, of Indian origin, retained his place in the final squad.

The midfield unit retains a strong sense of balance, with Assim Madibo, Abdulaziz Hatem and Karim Boudiaf providing control and experience in central areas. Jassim Gaber and Mohammed Mannai add energy and versatility, while Ahmed Fathy offers additional depth across midfield roles.

In defence, Qatar have maintained continuity with Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Lucas Mendes and Homam Al Amin forming the backbone of the backline. The group brings experience and understanding built over years of playing together in both regional and international competitions.

The goalkeeping department features Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham and Salah Zakaria, giving Lopetegui multiple options heading into the tournament.

Al Shahania goalkeeper Shehab Ellethy and Al Gharafa’s young defender Rayyan Al Ali, who were part of the earlier 28-man squad for the Ireland tour, have been left out of the final selection.

Qatar hit top gear as preparations enter final stage

Meanwhile, Qatar yesterday stepped up their World Cup preparations with an energetic training session in Santa Barbara, California, as their final build-up for the FIFA World Cup 2026 entered full swing.

The squad, based on the US west coast for the closing phase of preparation, trained with high intensity and visible sharpness, with players going through physically demanding drills that underlined the rising tempo inside the camp.

Videos from the session showed strong work in conditioning exercises, quick transitions and high-energy routines, with the players responding positively under Lopetegui as the technical staff continued fine-tuning tactical details.

The atmosphere in camp remains focused and upbeat as Qatar look to peak at the right time ahead of their opening match in North America.

Qatar will continue their build-up with a friendly against El Salvador in Los Angeles on June 6, the final test before the tournament.

They earlier faced Ireland in a warm-up match, where they suffered a defeat, but the coaching staff have used the fixtures to assess combinations and refine structure ahead of the global event.

New Delhi: India's cricket board on Tuesday appointed former international Sairaj Bahutule as spin bowling coach of the men's national team.

Bahutule, 53, represented India in two Tests and eight one-day internationals but had a more prolific domestic career, scoring 6,176 runs and claiming 630 wickets in first-class cricket.

"A former India international and a domestic stalwart, Mr Bahutule brings with him a wealth of experience as both a player and a coach," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

Bahutule was previously spin-bowling coach at Indian Premier League franchises Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings.

"It is a tremendous honour to be appointed as the spin bowling coach of the Indian men's cricket team," Bahutule said.

"I look forward to working with the players and supporting the team's pursuit of excellence across formats."

India play their first Test of the year, against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh on Saturday.

فتح رئيس نادي باريس سان جيرمان، ناصر الخليفي، الباب أمام إمكانية استمرار المدرب الإسباني لويس إنريكي لفترة طويلة قد تمتد حتى عام 2030، في ظل ما يقدمه الفريق من نتائج لافتة خلال الفترة الأخيرة. وجاءت تصريحات الخليفي بعد التتويج الأخير للنادي الباريسي بلقب دوري أبطال أوروبا وهو إنجاز عزز مكانة إنريكي وخلال مقابلة إعلامية مع إذاعة “ICI Paris Île-de-France”، ألمح الخليفي إلى رضاه الكامل عن عمل المدرب الإسباني، مشيدًا بالاستقرار الفني الذي يعيشه الفريق تحت قيادته، حيث قال: المدرب سعيد معنا وسعيد في باريس، ونحن فخورون به، إنه من أفضل المدربين في العالم.