logo
Qatar's Ibrahim Al Hassan selected by AFC among Favourite Future Stars of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Qatar's Ibrahim Al Hassan selected by AFC among Favourite Future Stars of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

ILoveQatar.net08-07-2025
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has selected 11 young players who shone with their national teams during the 3rd round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among those players is Qatar team player Ibrahim Al Hassan. The AFC invited fans to vote for their best star.
The AFC published a report on its official website on Tuesday, giving fans the opportunity to vote for the future star among the young players who participated with their national teams in the third round of the World Cup qualifiers. The report highlighted the remarkable performance of Qatar team player Ibrahim Al Hassan, who scored his first international goal with the national team against the UAE in the first round of the third round of the qualifiers, in addition to his contribution to the victory over Kyrgyzstan when he came on as a substitute and scored a goal in the third round.
The 19-year-old Al Hassan will compete with a number of players who have promising futures with their national teams, including Saudi Arabia's Musab Al Juwayr (22 years old), Abdukodir Khusanov (21 years old), who became the first player from Uzbekistan to play professionally in the English Premier League with Manchester City, Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki (22 years old), Indonesian center-back Justin Hubner (21 years old), and other players who caught the eye during their participation with their national teams in the final stage of World Cup qualifiers.
Team Qatar has qualified for the fourth round of the World Cup qualifiers, after finishing fourth in Group A of the third round of the qualifiers.
The fourth stage will feature six teams that finished third and fourth in the third round of the Asian qualifiers, including Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The AFC previously selected Qatar and Saudi Arabia to host the fourth-round matches, which will be held from Oct. 8-14, 2025. The draw will take place on July 17, with the six teams divided into two groups of three, each competing in a pool format. The top team in each group will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New Poland coach Urban wants Lewandowski back in the squad
New Poland coach Urban wants Lewandowski back in the squad

Qatar Tribune

timea day ago

  • Qatar Tribune

New Poland coach Urban wants Lewandowski back in the squad

dpa Berlin New Poland national team coach Jan Urban wants to bring star striker Robert Lewandowski back to the squad. 'At the moment, we can't afford not to have Robert in the national team,' he said in an interview with the Polish football federation (PZPN) published late on Wednesday. Urban added that he's ready to hold talks with the Barcelona striker. Lewandowski, who has 85 goals in 158 caps, said last month he would not play for the national team as long as previous helmsman Michal Probierz was in charge after the coach stripped him of the captaincy. Probierz eventually resigned after Poland lost a World Cup qualifier in Finland without Lewandowski, who was not part of the squad because he needed rest after a long season with Barcelona. The portal said that Lewandowski was ready to return under Urban but he is yet to confirm that. Urban said that he wants to solve the team's problems through conversation. 'That's how I've always done it. I want to hear one, two and three sides (of a story),' he said. The coach didn't promise Lewandowski that he would receive the captain's armband again. However, the issue should be clarified before the next World Cup qualifier match against the Netherlands on September 4.

Guardiola wants to bring Ter Stegen to Man City: Reports
Guardiola wants to bring Ter Stegen to Man City: Reports

Qatar Tribune

timea day ago

  • Qatar Tribune

Guardiola wants to bring Ter Stegen to Man City: Reports

dpa Madrid Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants to bring Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to his team, according to several media reports. Ter Stegen, currently at Barcelona, is Guardiola's preferred candidate to replace current starting keeper Ederson, who is flirting with a move to Saudi Arabia or the Serie A, the newspaper El Nacional said on Thursday. According to the reports, first talks over the transfer have already been held. 'Guardiola appreciates Ter Stegen's style of play and experience, especially his qualities in building up the game, his tactical intelligence and his calmness in goal - all qualities that fit perfectly with his style,' El Nacional wrote. Last week, Spanish newspapers said that Ter Stegen is to be only the third-choice goalkeeper at Barcelona in the upcoming season. The Sport newspaper said that coach Hansi Flick has already told the German that Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny are the first two options ahead of him. Szczesny stood in for Ter Stegen after the latter suffered a major knee injury in September and was sidelined for about seven months. The Mundo Deportivo newspaper, meanwhile, said that Flick isn't even counting on the German goalkeeper for the new season. Ter Stegen reportedly feels at home in Barcelona and in principle wants to fulfil his contract until 2028. However, due to the 2026 World Cup, he can't afford to spend a season on the bench and risk losing his starting position at the Germany national team. As Barcelona started the pre-season preparations, Ter Stegen has only completed individual sessions in the fitness room. The official reason for his absence from team training is back issues. Chelsea, Manchester United, Galatasaray and Monaco are reportedly interested in signing Ter Stegen.

Qatar drawn with UAE and Oman for Playoffs of Asian qualifying for FIFA World Cup 2026
Qatar drawn with UAE and Oman for Playoffs of Asian qualifying for FIFA World Cup 2026

Qatar Tribune

timea day ago

  • Qatar Tribune

Qatar drawn with UAE and Oman for Playoffs of Asian qualifying for FIFA World Cup 2026

tnn/Agencies Kuala Lumpur Al Annabi have been drawn along side the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman for the Playoffs of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2026. The six-team draw was held at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. Qatar will also play host to Group A with matches against UAE and Oman to be played the in a single round-robin format scheduled for October 8 to 14 in the fourth round at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. The group toppers will book ticket next year's global showpiece in the USA, Canada and Mexico while the second-placed teams from both groups will square off in a two-legged showdown across November 13 and 18. This knockout stage will determine the Continent's representative at the FIFA Playoff Tournament, which offers one final qualifying opportunity. Qatar, being coached by SpaniardJulen Lopetegui, are currently training in Austria, aiming to qualify for the FIFA World Cup on merit after having made their debut as hosts in 2022, advanced to the playoffs after finishing fourth in Group A of the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers. UAE, seeking a second appearance at the Finals following their debut in the 1990 edition, finished third in Group A while Oman - hoping for a debut appearance at the global showpiece - finished fourth in Group B. Oman, under the guidance of newly-appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz, are the only side hunting a historic maiden FIFA World Cup appearance. On the other side, Patrick Kuivert's Indonesia got a tough draw as they try to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1938. Coached by former Barcelona star and Dutch great Kluivert, Indonesia will play hosts Saudi Arabia and Iraq in Group B. Indonesia have embarked on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and backroom staff to bolster their bid for a first World Cup finals berth since becoming an independent nation. Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, was in February appointed technical adviser to the Football Association of Indonesia to work alongside Kluivert. Indonesia last qualified for a World Cup while still under Dutch colonial rule and lost 6-0 to Hungary in their only match of that tournament, hosted by France. They will face a difficult task against Middle East giants Saudi Arabia, who have home advantage and will be heavily favoured to top Group B. The Saudis have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions including the last two editions. Iraq have only qualified once in their history, in 1986. A draw was also held to determine the host team of the knockout stage, with the Group A runners-up to host the first leg. Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation. Draw Result (Matches to be played between Oct 8 and 14) Group A: Qatar (H), UAE, Oman Group B: Saudi Arabia (H), Iraq, Indonesia Knockout Stage 13 Nov 1st legcTypeface:> Runners-up Group A v Runners-up Group B 18 Nov 2nd leg: Runners-up Group B v Runners-up Group A

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store