Carlos Queiroz, the coach of the Qatar National Football Team, has expressed his primary goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. During a press conference held by the Qatar Football Association (QFA), Queiroz emphasized that their focus is not on the upcoming World Cup in 2022, but rather on securing a spot in the tournament four years later.
"The World Cup of Qatar is not expected in 2026," Queiroz stated respectfully. "In 2026, we will likely see teams like Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and England competing for the championship. Our journey towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts with the qualifying stages, and our first title is to qualify for the World Cup," he added.
Queiroz acknowledged that this path to qualification will be a challenging and lengthy process. His dream is to help Qatar qualify for the World Cup for the first time in history. Following the Gold Cup, which will take place from June 16th to July 16th, his focus will shift to preparing the team for the World Cup qualification campaign in November and the 2024 Asian Cup.
"We cannot climb a mountain with one step; we have to take many steps," Queiroz emphasized. "Our ultimate goal is to qualify for the World Cup. We have 183 days until our World Cup journey begins in November 2023. We need to be winners in each stage of the qualification process," he added.
Queiroz, who has previously led Portugal and Iran to the FIFA World Cup, expressed that defending their Asian Cup championship at home in January will be their first challenge. He recognized that Qatar currently ranks sixth in Asia, with five other teams ahead of them. To climb this mountain, they will need to challenge themselves against top Asian teams and strive for consistent victories.
Preparations for the Gold Cup are already underway, with the team announcing a 26-player squad for the training camp in Austria. Friendly matches against Croatia, Jamaica, and New Zealand are scheduled before the team departs for the United States. As a guest team in the Gold Cup, Qatar will face tough opponents such as Haiti, Honduras, and Mexico in their group stage fixtures.
Queiroz decision to leave out some star players from the roster announcement sparked curiosity. However, he clarified that the intention was to include new players and increase the pool of national talent. He emphasized the importance of competition for places and urged Qatar fans to continue their unwavering support throughout the team journey.
As Qatar national team embarks on their quest to secure a World Cup qualification, follow their progress and witness their determination to make history on the global football stage.