Coach Julen Lopetegui
DOHA: Qatar will begin life after the FIFA World Cup with a familiar squad as coach Julen Lopetegui retained the core of his senior players for the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Lopetegui yesterday named a 26-player squad for the upcoming tournament, also known as Khaleeji 27, which will be played from September 23 to October 6.
The squad features just three changes from Qatar’s World Cup group, with Al Sadd defender Tarek Salman returning alongside Hashim Ali and Naif Al Hadrami, who has earned a recall after a two-year absence.
Al Hashemi Al Hussein, Lucas Mendes and forward Mohammed Muntari, who has struggled with injuries, have been left out.
The squad otherwise retains much of the group that Lopetegui took to the World Cup, where Qatar suffered another first-round exit.
Qatar lost to Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina but earned their first-ever World Cup point with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland.
Lopetegui, who kept his position after the World Cup, will again have veteran forward Hassan Al Haydos at his disposal.
Al Haydos had reversed his decision to retire from international football ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. He scored in 3-1 defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Akram Afif and Almoez Ali remain the main attacking figures, while goalkeepers Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham and Salah Zakaria have retained their places.
Midfielder Assim Madibo is also included despite being handed a five-match ban for the tackle that broke the leg of Canada midfielder Ismael Kone during Qatar’s 6-0 defeat in Vancouver at the World Cup.
Qatar have been drawn in Group B and will open their Gulf Cup campaign against defending champions Bahrain on September 24. They will meet Yemen three days later before completing the group stage against the United Arab Emirates on September 30.
Hosts Saudi Arabia are in Group A alongside Iraq, Oman and Kuwait. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
The Gulf Cup will provide Qatar with their first competitive assignment since the World Cup and comes as the team begins preparations for another major regional challenge, the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
Qatar will be bidding for a third successive Asian Cup title at the tournament.
The Gulf Cup itself has been dominated historically by Kuwait, who have won the title 10 times. Iraq have four titles, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar have won three each.
Oman, the UAE and Bahrain have two titles apiece, while Yemen have yet to win the competition.
