Lopetegui dreams of a competitive Qatar at World Cup

Doha, Qatar: Julen Lopetegui is not making lofty promises as he prepares Qatar for their historic participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Instead, the head coach says he “dreams” of seeing Al Annabi become competitive against some of the world’s strongest teams in football’s biggest stage.

The two-time Asian champions will head to North America for the June 11-July 19 showpiece, marking the first time Qatar have qualified for a World Cup through the qualifying process. Their debut appearance in 2022 came as hosts, but this time they earned their place after navigating a demanding Asian campaign, sealing qualification with a dramatic 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates. sweetbonan.org

Having taken charge amid changes in the national team set-up during qualifying, Lopetegui now faces arguably the biggest challenge of his tenure. Qatar have been drawn in Group B alongside Switzerland, co-hosts Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the opponents the Spaniard openly admits are stronger on paper.

Yet, speaking in an interview with QNA, the former Spain and Real Madrid coach made it clear that Qatar will not head into the tournament merely to make up the numbers.

“We have the ambition and the dream to be competitive in the World Cup because we won our right to be there,” Lopetegui said.

“No one gave us this opportunity. We earned it and now we have to be ready to do our best, being humble and understanding the level of our opponents.”

Lopetegui is realistic about the challenge awaiting Qatar. Switzerland, whom Al Annabi face in their opening match on June 13, are among Europe’s most consistent teams and have been a regular force in major tournaments.

“Switzerland are maybe one of the most balanced teams in Europe in the last eight years,” he said. “They have the same coach, very good players and footballers competing in the Champions League, Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.”

Canada, Qatar’s second opponents in Vancouver on June 19, also represent a stern test according to Lopetegui, who pointed to the quality of players competing at elite European clubs.

“You analyse Canada’s line-up and most of their players compete in the Champions League,” he said, adding that Bosnia and Herzegovina - Qatar’s final opponents on June 24 - pose a similarly difficult challenge.

But despite repeatedly acknowledging the gulf in experience and pedigree, Lopetegui believes Qatar must embrace the challenge rather than fear it.

“We know they are better than us, but now they have to beat us,” he said. “We cannot lie to ourselves about the reality, but we have the dream to compete and to be competitive.”

Preparation, according to the 59-year-old, will be central to Qatar’s hopes of making an impression.

Unlike domestic football schedules in Qatar, several World Cup matches in North America will take place earlier in the day, forcing players to adapt physically and mentally.

“Here you never play in the morning, usually you play at night,” Lopetegui explained. “We have to start working in the morning. We have to change many things in our bodies and minds to be ready.”

The coach stressed that the coming weeks will revolve around intense work, commitment and careful planning to ensure the team peak at the right moment.

“There is no switch on and switch off,” he said. “We have to work on effort, spirit and commitment to arrive stronger when June comes.”

Lopetegui also revealed that avoiding injuries remains one of his biggest concerns ahead of Qatar’s final preparations.

“The most important thing is to have as few injuries as possible,” he said. “We are crossing our fingers because there is no time to recover if players suffer injuries at this stage.”

With several senior players in the squad aged 35 or older, managing workloads has become crucial. Lopetegui said this was one of the reasons behind squad rotation during recent tournaments, including the Arab Cup, as Qatar attempt to strike a balance between experience and freshness.

“We have to take care of the players to arrive at the World Cup in the best possible condition,” he said. “Sometimes you have to make different choices because we want them ready for the big challenge in June.”

The Spaniard also addressed the cancellation of high-profile matches against Argentina and Serbia in March, a challenge he admitted would have been valuable tests for Qatar.

“It was not good for us because we lost the possibility to compete against very demanding teams,” Lopetegui said.

Lopetegui defended the decision to hold an ongoing training camp, citing the physical risk to players who had already spent extended time away from their clubs.

“It was a bad period and many players had already been out of their teams for around 15 days,” he said. “It was a big risk to force them to play these kinds of matches, so we adapted and focused on training.”

Even so, the coach insisted strong opponents are essential for Qatar’s development, pointing to last year’s defeat to Russia as an example of how difficult fixtures can sharpen the team before decisive matches.

“Sometimes these tough matches teach you a lot,” he said. “Against stronger teams you understand your real level and what you need to improve.”

On the player front, Lopetegui admitted fitness and match rhythm will heavily influence his final squad selection, particularly in the case of striker Almoez Ali, who endured an injury-hit campaign.

“In Ali’s case, unfortunately he only played around two matches this year because of injuries and surgery,” Lopetegui said, referring to Almoez Ali.

“For this level of competition, rhythm is very important. We hope he improves step by step because all players need minutes to be physically ready.”

Despite the challenges, Lopetegui urged Qatari fans to savour the moment, describing qualification itself as a historic achievement.

“Qatari people should be proud because we achieved something many countries could not,” he said.

“We achieved one dream of qualifying for the World Cup. Now we have another dream, to be competitive and to make the people proud of the team’s behaviour, spirit and fight.”

Rome: Jannik Sinner will face Casper Ruud in the men's final of the Italian Open after finishing off Daniil Medvedev in Saturday's closing chapter of an enthralling last-four clash, which was paused overnight due to rain in Rome.

The world number one could claim a record-extending sixth Masters 1000 title on Sunday thanks to a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win which had almost everything over the course of its two-and-a-half hours.

Sinner had to have treatment on his right thigh and even vomited during Friday night's leg of the semi-final as Medvedev gave the Italian by far his toughest test of the tournament.

But he looked in much better spirits before the restart as he joked and played football with his coaching team during his warm-up in the bowels of the centre court arena, just as warm spring sunshine started to shine after a few days of volatile weather.

"It was a different challenge, a tough challenge to be honest," said Sinner.

"During the night usually I never struggle to sleep, but this night was not easy because when you're on the third set, you know I'm nearly nearly done but you still have to show up again, and you never know what's happening because It's basically a new start of a match. There are nerves."

The match was scheduled to restart at at 3.00pm local time (1300GMT) but was again delayed by an hour both due to more rain and the men's doubles semi-final, won by Sinner's compatriots Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.

A 4-2 lead in the third set for Sinner when play was stopped was too much for Medvedev to overcome, and the 24-year-old sealed his 33rd straight win in Masters 1000 tournaments.

Medvedev was at advantage in game seven of the third set, which he immediately won, but Sinner won the next game on his service to love and closed out the match in less than 20 minutes.

Ruud gets a chance for revenge for a brutal hammering against Sinner here last year after dismantling Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday, another match interrupted by heavy rain.

The Norwegian has not won a single set in any of his four matches with Sinner and was destroyed 6-0, 6-1 in the 2025 last eight in one of the most one-sided matches ever seen at the Foro Italico.

"I think he's playing much, much better tennis right now, so its going to be very tough," said Sinner.

"Every match every week, even if you play with the same player week after week. It's completely different, so I'm just happy to stand again here in the final."

Later Coco Gauff will attempt to claim her first Rome title in the women's final against Elina Svitolina.

American star Gauff lost to Jasmine Paolini in the last year's final but could go one better ahead of her Roland Garros title defence.

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Winter Sports Committee, in collaboration with Years of Culture, will continue the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture Winter Sports Development Programme with a new series of public winter sports activities at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena from May 24 to 26 2026.

The May programme invites families, young people, sports enthusiasts, and members of the wider community to experience curling, ice hockey, skating, and short track through open house sessions and friendly community games. The activities are designed to introduce winter sports to the public in an accessible and welcoming setting, while continuing to build connections between Canadian, Qatari and expat communities in Doha.

Launched in April, the Winter Sports Development Programme runs throughout 2026 and aims to expand participation in winter sports in Qatar, with a focus on grassroots engagement, youth development, coach education, and competitive opportunities. Developed as part of the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, the programme highlights the role of sport as a platform for cultural exchange, community participation, and long-term collaboration.

Event Schedule

Curling Open House
Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
Time: From 4PM
Location: Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena
Details: Public introductory curling sessions for all ages

Canada–Qatar Expat Ice Hockey Series
Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
Time: 7PM – 8PM
Location: Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena
Details: Members of the public are invited to spectate the ice hockey series, followed by the Open House Ice Skating session

Short Track & Skating Open House
Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
Time: 8:20 PM – 9:50 PM
Location: Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena
Details: Open skating experiences introducing short track disciplines to the public

Canadian–Qatar Expat Curling Game
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Time: 6PM – 8PM
Location: Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena
Details: Friendly curling matches connecting Canadian, Qatari, and expat communities throughout the season. Teams of four may take part, with one captain required to register the team at the Registration Desk on the day.

Attendance and Registration
Registration and attendance are open to all at the venue. Activities will be held on a first-come, first-served basis, with rotating slots available throughout the sessions.
Further details on upcoming events will be announced through the Years of Culture website and official social media channels.

استدعى الإسباني لوبيتيغي مدرب العنابي، فهد يونس حارس السيلية للانضمام إلى المعسكر التدريبي للعنابي، ضمن التحضيرات المكثفة لخوض نهائيات كأس العالم 2026. ويأتي استدعاء فهد يونس في إطار سعي الجهاز الفني لتعزيز الخيارات المتاحة في مركز حراسة المرمى، والوقوف على جاهزية جميع العناصر قبل الدخول في المرحلة الأخيرة من برنامج الإعداد للمونديال، خاصة في ظل المنافسة القوية بين الحراس خلال الفترة الحالية.
ومن المنتظر أن يشارك الحارس في التدريبات الجماعية للعنابي خلال المعسكر الجاري، الذي يشهد تركيزًا كبيرًا على الجوانب البدنية والفنية، إلى جانب رفع معدلات الانسجام بين اللاعبين قبل خوض المباريات الودية التحضيرية المقبلة.

قال فهد ثاني الزراع مدير إدارة التطوير باتحاد كرة القدم: نحن في اتحاد كرة القدم نحتفل سنويا باليوم الاسيوي للبراعم، حيث أصبحت لدينا منصة صنعت الشغف عند الأطفال والاستمتاع بلعبة كرة القدم وفي نفس الوقت فرصة لاكتشاف المواهب من قبل الفنيين المعنيين بهذا الامر، وهو ما يجعلنا في اتحاد الكرة سعداء جدا لاسيما بتواجد أولياء الأمور ودعمهم للابناء وتحفيزهم وتشجيعهم لممارسة كرة القدم، والعيش مع هوايتهم وهو ما يجعل لدينا فرصة اكبر للحصول على المواهب والخامات الواعدة، فضلا عن زرع القيم الدينية والتربوية في نفوس الأطفال وممارسة اللعب بكل حرية بعيدا عن أي ضغوط، وأضاف الزراع على هامش المهرجان الاسيوي للبراعم الذي أقيم على مدى يومين في قبة اسباير، ان تواجد هذا العدد الكبير من اللاعبين يجعلهم يتعرفون على بعضهم البعض وإقامة صداقات وعلاقات اخوية، ونؤمن بأن صناعة البطل تبدأ من خلال هذه المحافل، وحول تواجد الاتحاد القطري في المواقع الأولى في قارة اسيا أشار الى ان الاتحاد القطري اصبح نموذجا يحتذى به على مستوى القارة الاسيوية وعلى جميع الدول المتقدمة في مجال كرة القدم، لاسيما في قطاع الفئات السنية، ونحن نمتلك إمكانيات عالية وبنى تحتية ساهمت فيها رؤية الدولة من خلال توفير هذه الإمكانيات الكبيرة من اجل خلق بيئة جيدة لممارسة كرة القدم، واكتشاف المواهب وتطويرها والدفع بهم الى المنتخبات المختلفة، وهو ما يجعلنا نفتخر بما لدينا والاهتمام في البراعم الواعدة يكون في الخطوط الأولى ليس على اسيا بل حتى على مستوى العالم

حازم حربة: حصاد مجهودات كبيرة
قال حازم حربة مسؤول قطاع البراعم في إدارة التطوير ان ما شاهدنا في مهرجان البراعم الاسيوي هو نتيجة جهود موسم كامل من خلال عمل كبير وجهود قيمة واندفاع بكل تفان ورح وحماس لخدمة الأطفال في مجال كرة القدم وتنمية الموهبة والقيم التربوية لديهم، وأضاف الكابتن حازم ان جهود السيد فهد الزراع مدير إدارة التطوير وجهود المشرفين الفنيين وتعاون الأندية اسهم في نجاح المهرجان الاسيوي كما شاهدتموه وبحضور اسيوي،

ماساهيرو: ما شاهدته في قطر لم أشهد مثله
أعرب السيد ماساهيرو المدير الفني لقطاع الفئات العمرية في الاتحاد الاسيوي لكرة القدم عن سعادته بتواجده في قطر ومعايشة العرس الكروي الكبير للبراعم الذي ادهشني كثيرا وجعل الصورة تكون اكثر وضوحا من خلال التواجد والتعرف على التنظيم والمواهب الواعدة والاعداد الكبيرة من اللاعبين الصغار الذين وجدت لديهم شغفا كرويا كبيرا وهو ما يؤمل بمستقبل رائع للكرة القطرية، مؤكدا انه حضر الكثير من المهرجانات من هذا النوع من المهرجانات الا انه لم يشهد مثلما شاهده في قطر وهو من افضل المهرجانات في اسيا،

الدحيل يحصد درع التفوق..وأم صلال ناد متطور
اختتمت فعاليات المهرجان الآسيوي للبراعم الذي نظمته على مدار يومين إدارة التطوير في الاتحاد القطري لكرة القدم ويقام سنويا في الملعب الداخلي في أكاديمية أسباير، وقد حضر المهرجان مدير قسم شؤون البراعم في الاتحاد الاسيوي لكرة القدم وأحرز نادي الدحيل درع التفوق العام للموسم الحالي كما تم منح جائزة النادي المتطور لنادي ام صلال وتوج الفرق الفائزة السيد فهد ثاني الزراع مدير إدارة التطوير في اتحاد كرة القدم والسيد ماساهيرو مدير قسم قطاع البراعم في الاتحاد الاسيوي لكرة القدم والسيد خالد الحمر من مكتب الأمانة العامة للاتحاد القطري لكرة القدم، والنجمان ياسين إبراهيم قائد فريق الغرافة واحمد الراوي لاعب منتخبنا الوطني