Team Qatar Steps Up Preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026 Campaign

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May 24, 2026
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24-May-2026

Team Qatar Steps Up Preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026 Campaign

DOHA - Qatar national football team players expressed confidence and determination ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stressing the squad’s readiness and ambition to deliver a stronger performance than in their previous appearance at the global tournament at Qatar 2022.

Team Qatar  are in Group B along with Switzerland, co-hosts Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Team Qatar  will open their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 13 in Santa Clara, California, before meeting Canada in Vancouver on June 19, and Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24 in Seattle.

Speaking to the media ahead of their training session at the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday, Homam Al Amin said the squad has benefited significantly from their current training period leading up to the World Cup.

“We have prepared well for the tournament, and everyone is aware of the great challenge that awaits us in the World Cup,” Al Amin said. “We are entering the competition with high morale and great ambitions to perform better than in the previous edition of the 2022 World Cup.”

He added that the upcoming friendly matches against Ireland and El Salvador will play an important role in helping the team reach full readiness before the tournament begins.

Al Amin also praised the support of Qatari fans, describing them as a major source of motivation for the players. “Our fans are always number one in every tournament, and their presence gives us a great incentive to perform strongly on the field,” he said. “We hope to live up to their expectations and make them proud in the World Cup.

“The responsibility is great for everyone, but we have the confidence and determination to give our best,” he added.

Qatar defender Tarek Salman said the team’s preparations are progressing positively as Qatar aim to make a strong presence at the World Cup.

“Preparations are going well, and we have two friendly matches against Ireland and El Salvador,” Salman said. “We will strive to perform well and prepare properly for the World Cup.”

He noted that the players are working intensively to implement the coaching staff’s tactical and technical plans, while also focusing on correcting mistakes and improving collective performances.

Salman stressed the importance of the upcoming friendlies, describing them as valuable opportunities to assess the squad’s readiness and strengthen team cohesion before the start of the tournament.

“Our focus is on the teams we will face in the group, especially the opening match against Switzerland,” he said.

The defender also highlighted the importance of fan support during the World Cup campaign.

“The presence of Qatari fans with us at the World Cup is a great incentive and a strong motivation for all the players,” Salman added. “We hope to live up to their expectations by delivering strong performances and positive results.”

Central defender Pedro Miguel said the team’s preparation has been “Very good. We are doing very, very hard work.”

He stressed that Qatar aim to be at their best from the very first game against Switzerland.

“All the players are giving 100% in the training to be in the best shape ahead of our first game (at the World Cup.”

On the team’s morale, Miguel said, “All the players are excited. The players are very happy to arrive at the World Cup. To play in the World Cup which is one of the best competitions in the world. All the players are very excited to start the tournament.”

He termed Qatar’s group as a difficult one. “We play against strong national teams. They have good players. But I feel my teammates are very ready for this tournament. We show another face, not like the last World Cup. And for sure we give everything in the games to qualify for the next stage from this group.

“Of course we have to do our best to qualify for the next round. If we compare with the last World Cup here (in Qatar), it was a big, big pressure.

“Now, I feel less pressure than last one because we play away. We don’t play at home. It was a lot of pressure because we wanted to do an amazing World Cup to show that everybody was ready. But unfortunately we could not because we didn’t play so well. But this part of football, it’s been already four years. We have a lot of experience. We have a lot of new players to come and help us. And Inshallah we’ll will have an amazing World Cup.”

On a lot of fans travelling to support the team at the World Cup, Miguel said, “From my side and for the players, we will give everything to make them happy.”

On Qatar’s warm up matches coming up against Ireland and El Salvador, he said, “It will be good games to prepare our team, to prepare ourselves for the World Cup against Switzerland. We are preparing very hard, training very hard to do the best in these two kinds of games and to be in the best shape for Switzerland.”

Youssef Abdel-Razzaq said preparations are proceeding as required to reach full readiness before entering the upcoming World Cup finals.

He stressed that the current focus of the team is on making the most of the two friendly matches against Ireland and El Salvador.