Current FIFA Ranking: 51
Highest FIFA Ranking: 34 (April & July 2024)
Lowest FIFA Ranking: 113 (Nov 2010)
Football Team Nickname: The Maroon
Honours: Asian Cup (2): 2019, 2023
Head coach: Julen Lopetegui (May 2025)
Top scorer in qualifying: Almoez Ali (12)
Star players: Akram Afif (Al-Sadd), Hassan Al-Haydos (Al-Sadd), Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail)
A first ever World Cup qualification has completed a miraculous six years for Qatar.
The Maroon lifted their inaugural Asian Cup in 2019 but followed it up with a second success in 2023 – the first nation to retain the title since Japan in 2004.
The 2022 World Cup hosts will be looking for a first finals point after losing every match last time out – but will also hope head coach Julen Lopetegui isn’t removed from his role two days before the tournament begins, as happened to the Spaniard when in charge of Spain 2018.
Head-to-head v Canada:
Played: 1 Canada wins: 1 Qatar wins: 0 Draws: 0
Date Competition Venue Result Canada scorers
Sept 2022 Friendly Vienna W2-0 Cyle Larin, Jonathan David
Previous World Cup appearances (1):
2022: Group stage (Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador)
