Qatar coach names squad for preparatory camp in Austria
Doha
Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday named a 30-member squad for Al Annabi's 17-day preparatory camp in Austria from July 11-27.
The players will undergo extensive training besides playing two friendly matches during the camp as they gear up for a critical phase of the fourth round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The squad has a mix of youth and experience and also includes the recently recalled veteran and captain Hassan Al Haydos. He recently came out of his international retirement to rejoin the national team at the coach's insistence.
The training camp will also provide the Spanish coach Lopetegui an opportunity to further fine tune the squad.
Al Annabi are preparing for the October 8, 11, 14 qualifiers, where Qatar will compete against five other nations - Iraq, Oman, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for a direct ticket to the global showpiece.
The six teams will be split into two groups of three, with the winner of each group securing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals, while the second-placed sides will move on to the fifth and final round of qualification.
The fourth-round draw will be held on July 17, with matches kicking off in October.
Preparatory camp squad: Meshaal Barsham, Marwan Sherif, Salah Zakaria, Shehab Ellethy, Abdulaziz Hatem, Abdullah Youssef, Abdullah Alyazidi, Assim Madibo, Ahmed Suhail, Ahmed Al Rawi, Ahmed Fathy, Ahmed Al Ganehi, Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Boualem Khoukhi, Edmilson Junior, Guilherme Torres, Hazem Ahmed, Hassan Al Haydos, Homam Al Amin, Ismail Mohammed, Karim Boudiaf, Jassim Jaber, Mohammed Muntari, Mohammed Al Mannai, Mostafa Tarek, Pedro Miguel, Tarek Salman, Youssef Abdelrazzaq, Youssef Aymen.
Coach: Julen Lopetegui.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
9 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Klinsmann wants Muller to continue in US
dpa Berlin Thomas Muller should continue his career in Major League Soccer after the end of his 25 years at Bayern Munich, former Bayern player and coach Jürgen Klinsmann has said. Muller, 35, is yet to decide on his future after his trophy-laden Bayern career ended on Saturday when Bayern lost their Club World Cup quarter-final 2-0 against Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta. Muller come on for the final 10 minutes for his 756th first team match, almost 17 years after he got his first Bundesliga start in August 2008 under then coach Klinsmann, who integrated him into the first team from the reserves. Klinsmann, who has been living in California for many years and was also US national team coach, said in a column for Kicker sports magazine that he hopes Muller will take the plunge into MLS. 'I wish that he continues for a few more years, and of course that he includes the US adventure in his considerations,' Klinsmann said. 'He has everything to give football in the US another push, like Lionel Messi and Marco Reus as well are doing.' Messi plays for Inter Miami and Germany's Reus for Los Angeles Galaxy. LA could also be a destination for Muller in the form of Los Angeles FC who are said to be interested in the 2014 World Cup winner. 'He would surely have a lot of joy, and of course I hope that in this case it would preferably draw him to Los Angeles,' Klinsmann said. Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness meanwhile expressed scepticism about a possible US move for Muller. 'I always said that it would be better for him to retire. But if he really wants to do it then he should,' Hoeness told reporters on Saturday in Munich. Hoeness agreed that the MLS has improved in quality but warned that 'when you have played at Bayern and then in Los Angeles - it is not the same thing.' Muller said on Saturday he was 'aware that it was the last match' but that there was no decision yet. 'You have to process the events first. I'm still fully in work mode. Everything else will come gradually,' he said. One scenario is however out of the question, staying at Bayern because of Jamal Musiala's severe leg injury sustained on Saturday.
Qatar Tribune
9 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Musiala fibula fracture confirmed as Bayern say lengthy lay-off due
dpa Atlanta Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle in a Club World Cup quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain and will be sidelined for a 'long period,' the club confirmed on Sunday. Bayern said that Musiala was returning from the tournament in the United States on Sunday and would then soon undergo surgery. A further update is expected after the operation but he is bound to miss several months at least. Musiala sustained the injury to his left leg after being hit by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma late in the first half of the 2-0 defeat by PSG on Saturday. Bayern head of sport Max Eberl said in a statement: 'This serious injury and the lengthy lay-off are a real shock for Jamal and us all. 'Everyone knows how immensely important Jamal is for our game and what a central role he has in our team. Furthermore, there's also a huge human impact and we all feel for him: Jamal has just come back from an injury and will now be out for another long period. 'He'll get everything he needs from us. We'll support him intensively, be by his side and already look forward to when he's back on the pitch.' It was a major setback for the 22-year-old, who was making his first start since suffering a hamstring injury three months ago, and who will also miss Germany's World Cup qualifiers starting in September. The Germany playmaker will aim to be fully fit for the World Cup back in the US next June but he has many obstacles to overcome beforehand. Müller says staying on to cover Musiala 'tawdry' Bayern were also flying back to Germany on Sunday but the Club World Cup exit paled in comparison to Musiala's pain - which was clearly visible as other players looked away from the gruesome scene. 'What gets my blood boiling is not the result but it happened to someone who loves the game so much and is also very important for us,' Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said. Several Bayern figures criticized Donnarumma for what they saw as a reckless piece of goalkeeping. Musiala's injury also overshadowed the end of Thomas Muller's trophy-laden 25 years and 756 first-team matches at the club. The 35-year-old quickly dismissed as 'tawdry' suggestions he should perhaps be given another short-term deal to cover in Musiala's absence. But Bayern will have to change their transfer plans now having not even replaced winger Leroy Sané, who has joined Galatasaray on a free transfer, let alone Müller or fellow forward Musiala. Florian Witz opted for Liverpool rather than Bayern, who have acknowledged that massive funds are not available. The revamped Club World Cup has swelled coffers, but a deeper run would have further boosted the bank balance. The Bavarians have been linked with a host of top European wingers and Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade, who could play in the hole like Musiala but also be a back-up to striker Harry Kane. Bayern have been after the 23-year-old for weeks but Stuttgart allegedly want a huge fee, with some reports speaking of close to ?100 million ($118 million), to get him out of his contract until 2028. Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness called Woltemade 'a very, very good player who would be a great fit for us.' Musiala's fate was an emotional blow on a day when ambitious Bayern found out again that they can compete with the best, but not quite have the class to beat them - even conceding the second goal when Ousmane Dembelé wrapped up matters after PSG were reduced to nine players. Eberl said that Bayern 'learnt the hard way' about not taking their chances, after the team 'went toe-to-toe with the current Champions League winners and played very well.' Kompany announced a three-week holiday for the players to recharge their batteries for the new season, which the Bundesliga champions start on August 16 in the Super Cup at German Cup winners Stuttgart.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Al Arabi acquire Olunga from Al Duhail
Al Arabi have acquired Kenyan striker Michael Olunga on a two-year contract, marking the centerpiece of an aggressive Qatar Stars League summer transfer window. The 31-year-old joins as a free agent after his contract with Al Duhail expired. Olunga has scored 130 goals for Duhail and won five titles in four seasons. He is joined by new signings Pablo Sarabia, a Spanish forward, and goalkeeper Youssef Hassan. Al Arabi is also bolstering its squad by bringing back young talents Al Hashemi Al Hussein and Salem Reda from loan spells in Spain. To prepare for the upcoming season, the team will travel to Valencia, Spain, for a pre-season camp under coach Pablo Amo from July 15 to August 3.
