For Qatar, the 2026 World Cup is no longer about being the greatest host. It is about proving how far Al Annabi has come on the pitch.

Four years after hosting a historic tournament at home, Qatar returns to the World Cup with a different challenge: turning experience into results and pushing beyond the group stage for the first time.

The 2026 edition, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, will mark Qatar’s second World Cup appearance, but its first through qualification. Al Annabi will be looking to build on their 2022 campaign, when they exited the group stage after three matches, scoring once and conceding seven goals.

Qatar has been drawn in Group B alongside Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They will open their campaign against Switzerland in San Francisco on June 13, before facing Canada in Vancouver on June 18 and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24.

Qatar’s road to qualification came with its challenges. Despite entering the campaign as back-to-back AFC Asian Cup champions, Al Annabi finished third in their third-round qualifying group behind Iran and Uzbekistan, missing out on automatic qualification. They then moved into the fourth-round playoffs, where they drew 0-0 with Oman before defeating the UAE 2-1 in Doha to secure their place at the World Cup.

Qatar’s campaign also comes after a period of major coaching changes, with Julen Lopetegui taking charge ahead of the decisive stages of qualification. The Spanish coach has kept several experienced names from the 2022 squad while also bringing in fresh talent, with 12 players set for their first World Cup appearance.

Lopetegui announced his final 26-man squad on June 2, in line with FIFA regulations. The list includes goalkeepers Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada and Salah Zakaria, as well as Ahmed Al-Ganehi, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior, Ahmed Fathi, Ahmed Alaa, Tahseen Mohammed, Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Ayoub Al Aloui, Al Hashmi Al Hussein, Assim Madibo, Sultan Al Braik, Hassan Al Haydos, Jassem Jaber, Mohamed Al Mannai, Lucas Mendes, Karim Boudiaf, Issa Laaye, Abdulaziz Hatem, Youssef Abdulrazzaq, Homam Ahmed and Mohammed Muntari. The squad blends experienced names from Qatar’s 2022 World Cup campaign with newer faces set to make their debut on football’s biggest stage.

Preparation began in mid-May after the domestic season, with Qatar holding a local camp before travelling to Dublin, where they faced Ireland in a friendly that ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat. The team then arrived in California for its final training camp, which includes a final test against El Salvador in Los Angeles on June 6.

For the national team, the target is clear: reach the knockout rounds and make history by progressing beyond the group stage for the first time. Led by stars such as Akram Afif and Almoez Ali, and backed by experienced leaders including Hassan Al Haydos, Qatar will be aiming to turn its second World Cup appearance into its strongest yet.