From Hosts to Contenders: Can Lopetegui’s Qatar Shock the World in 2026?

Qatar is headed to North America, and this time, they’ve earned their spot through fire and grit. In this episode, we break down Qatar’s historic first-ever successful AFC qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We dive deep into Julen Lopetegui’s tactical evolution, the defensive heroism of captain Boualem Khoukhi, and the clinical brilliance of Almoez Ali, who dominated the qualifiers with 12 goals.

With creative mastermind Akram Afif pulling the strings, the two-time Asian champions have the firepower to compete, but can they patch up a leaky defense before facing the world's elite? Join us as we analyze whether this "new generation" has what it takes to move beyond the group stages in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

2026 FIFA World Cup, Qatar National Football Team, Julen Lopetegui, Almoez Ali, Asian Football Qualifiers