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Although Qatar are the host nation of the FIFA World Cup, this is also the first time they have competed in the tournament.
The Arab nation, who are 50th in the FIFA world rankings, played a series of official and unofficial friendlies in recent months in order to prepare for their maiden major tournament appearance.
Results were solid, if unspectacular. They were defeated only twice — albeit to Canada and Croatia’s under-23 side — and beat Ghana back in August. Qatar have also played in other confederations’ tournaments in preparation for the World Cup — they finished bottom of their Copa America group in 2019 and third at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
They have a largely settled squad with all of their recent international call-ups playing their club football in Qatar, primarily for Al-Sadd.
Hassan Al-Haydos is their key player. The 31-year-old Al-Sadd forward captains the national side and with 36 goals in 168 competitive appearances trails joint record scorers Mansoor Muftah and Almoez Ali by just six goals.
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Goalkeepers: Saad Al Sheeb (Al-Sadd), Meshaal Barsham (Al-Sadd), Yousuf Hassan (Al-Gharafa);
Defenders: Pedro Miguel (Al-Sadd), Musaab Khidir (Al-Sadd), Tarek Salman (Al-Sadd), Bassam Al Rawi (Al-Duhail), Boualem Khoukhi (Al-Sadd), Abdelkarim Hassan (Al-Sadd), Homam Al Amin (Al-Gharafa), Jassim Gabir (Al-Arabi);
Midfielders: Ali Asad (Al-Sadd), Assim Madibo (Al-Duhail), Mohammed Waad (Al-Sadd), Salem Al Hajri (Al-Sadd), Mustafa Meshaal (Al-Sadd), Karim Boudiaf (Al-Duhail), Abdulaziz Hatem (Al-Rayyan), Ismaeel Mohammad (Al-Duhail);
Forwards: Naif Al Hadhrami (Al-Rayyan), Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al-Gharafa), Hassan Al Haydos (Al-Sadd), Khalid Muneer (Al-Wakrah), Akram Afif (Al-Sadd), Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail), Mohammed Muntari (Al-Duhail).
Sunday, November 20: Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Friday, November 25: Qatar vs Senegal
Tuesday, November 29: Netherlands vs Qatar
Qatar squad analysis
It could be argued that Qatar’s preparations for this tournament go back even further than 2010 when they were controversially awarded the right to host the competition. They will need to be at their best if they are to achieve their aim of avoiding the same fate as South Africa in 2010…
For a full analysis of Qatar’s chances at the World Cup, click here.
Meet The Athletic’s guest writers for the World Cup
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Ecuador beat Qatar 2-0 in the World Cup opener. Enner Valencia starred with a pair of goals.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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