Qatar World Cup 2026 Squad: Full 26-Man Roster, Afif Leads Asian Champions in Group B

Julen Lopetegui trimmed a 34-man preliminary squad to 26 on May 15, 2026, naming a Qatar side that blends the 2023 Asian Cup-winning core with a new generation of domestically developed talent. The Maroon arrive at their second consecutive World Cup — and first as qualifiers rather than hosts — after navigating AFC qualifying with the quiet confidence of Asian champions. But injuries to record-scorer Almoez Ali and 186-cap veteran Hassan Al Haydos cloud the preparation, and Group B is unforgiving: Switzerland’s tournament DNA, Canada’s home-soil advantage, and Bosnia’s desperate hunger after 12 years away. Qatar is not the favorite in any group-stage match, but they were not the favorite to win the Asian Cup either.

Confirmed 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Key inclusions

Akram Afif — the talisman. Afif is the face of Qatari football: 2019 Asian Player of the Year, 2023 Asian Cup MVP (hat-trick in the final), and now captain at 29. His best position is drifting in from the left, where his close control, vision, and eye for goal make him the most dangerous player in Asian football. Lopetegui has built the attack around freeing Afif to find pockets between the lines. He scored 10 goals in AFC qualifying and carries the creative burden almost alone.

Almoez Ali — the record scorer. Ali’s 53 international goals make him Qatar’s all-time leading marksman, surpassing Mansour Muftah’s 42-goal record in 2024. But he missed the final month of the Qatar Stars League season with a knee issue, and his fitness for the group stage is the defining concern. When fit, his movement off Afif’s service is Qatar’s primary goalscoring mechanism.

Pedro Miguel — the defensive veteran at 35. The Portuguese-born right-back has represented Qatar since 2016 and brings 92 caps of experience to a back line that will face Alphonso Davies, Edin Džeko, and Switzerland’s attacking depth. His leadership, positioning, and ability to tuck inside as a third center-back in possession are essential to Lopetegui’s build-up structure.

Yusuf Abdurisag — the bench weapon. At 26, Abdurisag is Qatar’s most impactful substitute — a direct, powerful runner who changes games in the final 30 minutes. He scored 4 goals off the bench in AFC qualifying and gives Lopetegui a different tactical look when chasing a result.

Notable omissions

Hassan Al Haydos — fitness doubt, included in prelim but final decision pending. With 186 caps, Al Haydos is Qatar’s most-capped player in history and the spiritual leader of the golden generation. He is in the 26 but battling a calf issue that limited his club minutes in April-May. His tournament availability may be match-dependent.

Abdelkarim Hassan — The left-back (131 caps) who was AFC Player of the Year in 2018 was not selected. Homam Ahmed has taken the starting left-back position, and Lopetegui opted for younger cover.

Karim Boudiaf — The holding midfielder (121 caps) was excluded from the 34-man preliminary squad entirely, marking the end of his international career at 35.

Tactical outlook

Lopetegui has instilled a 4-2-3-1 system that is more conservative than Qatar’s 2022 approach under Félix Sánchez. The double-pivot of Madibo and Gaber sits deep, protecting a back four that includes three players aged 35+ (Pedro Miguel, Khoukhi, Mendes). The attacking structure relies almost entirely on transitions: Afif carrying from deep, Almoez Ali running the channels, and the full-backs providing the only width.

The 2022 World Cup experience — despite three losses as hosts — provided critical exposure. Qatar is no longer the deer in headlights it was against Ecuador in that opening match. But the step up from AFC qualifying to World Cup group-stage intensity remains steep. Switzerland’s organization will punish defensive lapses. Canada’s pace will test ageing legs. Bosnia — the most winnable fixture — will treat Qatar as their own must-win.

Lopetegui’s primary task is to make Qatar competitive rather than just present. If Almoez Ali is fit and Afif produces moments of individual quality, a point or three is achievable. But this is the tournament’s quietest underdog story — no one expects anything, which is exactly how Qatar won the Asian Cup.

Group B outlook

Qatar’s path: the Switzerland opener is brutal — a technically superior opponent that reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2024. Canada on home soil (BMO Field, Toronto) is an electric atmosphere that few visiting teams will handle well. Bosnia on June 22 is the realistic target — a match where both teams likely need a result to have any knockout hope. 1-3 points is the realistic range. If Qatar takes a point off Bosnia and keeps the other two matches within a goal, this tournament can be considered progress from 2022.

Fan planning links

• Group B Analysis — Canada, Bosnia, Switzerland, Qatar
• World Cup 2026 Squad Tracker — All 48 Teams
• Vancouver Matchday Guide — BC Place
• Seattle Matchday Guide — Lumen Field

Sources checked

• Qatar Football Association (QFA) — official squad announcement, May 15, 2026
• Asian Football Confederation (AFC) — World Cup qualifying statistics
• Al Kass, beIN Sports — confirmed squad reporting
• transfermarkt — player club, age, caps data as of May 2026