FIFA World Cup
Set to appear on the global stage on merit for the first time after hosting the 2022 edition, Qatar will face co-hosts Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland in Group B.
Afif, a two-time AFC Player of the Year, will be expected to shoulder the burden of powering Qatar alongside Ali, with both having been pivotal in the West Asian nation's recent successes.
Back-to-back AFC Asian Cup™ winners, Qatar did not advance past the group stage four years ago following three defeats.
They are, however, a much more experienced side now with Lopetegui retaining the core of the squad from four years ago with the likes of goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham, defender Pedro Miguel and midfielders Assim Madibo, Abdulaziz Hatem and Karim Boudiaf all included.
Qatar will open their campaign against Switzerland on June 13 with Canada to follow five days later and Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Salah Zakaria, Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham
Defenders: Hashmi Hussein, Ayoub Alawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Issa Laaye, Lucas Mendes, Sultan Al-Brake, Homam Al-Amin
Midfielders: Mohammed Al-Manai, Jassem Jaber, Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathi, Abdulaziz Hatem, Assim Madibo
Forwards: Tahseen Mohammed, Edmilson Junior, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Mohammed Muntari, Youssef Abdulrazzaq, Ahmed Alaa, Hassan Al-Haydos, Ahmed Al-Janahi
Photo: AFP
