As Qatar resumes its quest for a maiden World Cup qualification against Kuwait on Thursday, there’s stability on the sidelines but changes on the field, following their recent triumph in retaining the Asian Cup on home soil.
Marquez Lopez, who steered Qatar to their successful defence of the continental title, was rewarded with a contract extension until 2026. However, there’s a significant alteration on the pitch as Hassan Al-Haydos, the longtime captain, has announced his retirement from international football. This departure leaves a notable gap in the team’s creative leadership.
Under Lopez’s guidance, Qatar currently leads Group A with six points from victories against Afghanistan and India. The top two teams from each group advance to the next phase of the preliminaries, with nine Asian nations vying for qualification to the World Cup finals.
Meanwhile, other Asian powerhouses are also navigating through their qualifiers. Japan faces North Korea in a doubleheader, leading Group B with maximum points. South Korea, under interim manager Hwang Sun-hong, confronts Thailand in Group C, seeking to maintain their position at the top.
Elsewhere, Iran hosts Turkmenistan in Group E, Australia faces Lebanon in Group I, and Saudi Arabia clashes with Tajikistan in Group G, as the race for World Cup qualification intensifies across the continent.
