DOHA: Qatar head coach Luis Garcia yesterday announced a 30-man preliminary squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against North Korea and Kyrgyzstan.
Garcia has recalled senior players who were dropped for the Arabian Gulf Cup in December, including Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan and Abdulaziz Hatem. Pedro Miguel and Edmilson Junior also return after recovering from injuries. Akram Afif and Almoez Ali will lead Qatar’s attack.
Qatar will face North Korea on March 20 and Kyrgyzstan on March 25. With just seven points from six matches, Qatar are currently fourth in Group A, nine points behind leaders Iran and six behind second-placed Uzbekistan.
The top teams from the group will secure direct qualification for the World Cup.
Qatar need to secure vital points to remain in contention for one of the two automatic berths from the group.
Qatar’s preliminary squad
Meshaal Barsham (Al Sadd), Salah Zakaria (Al Duhail), Mahmud Abunada (Al Arabi), Saad Al Sheeb (Al Sadd), Ahmed Al Ganehi (Al Gharafa), Ahmed Al Rawi (Al Rayyan), Ahmed Suhail (Al Sadd), Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al Arabi), Ahmed Fathy (Al Arabi), Akram Afif (Al Sadd), Edmilson Junior (Al Duhail), Almoez Ali (Al Duhail), Al Hashemi Al Hussain (AD Alcorcon B), Boualem Khoukhi (Al Sadd), Pedro Miguel (Al Sadd), Jassim Jaber (Al Arabi), Hazem Ahmed (Al Rayyan), Tarek Salman (Al Sadd), Assim Madibo (Al Gharafa), Abdulaziz Hatem (Al Rayyan), Abdelkarim Hassan (Al Wakrah), Abdullah Al Ahrak (Al Duhail), Abdullah Yousuf (Al Gharafa), Lucas Mendis (Al Wakrah), Mohammed Siraj (Al Rayyan), Mohammed Muntari (Al Gharafa), Murad Naji (Al Rayyan), Mostafa Meshaal (Al Sadd), Homam Al Amin (Al Duhail), Yusuf Abdurisag (Al Sadd)
