Published on 6/18/2026
Qatar national team coach Julen Lopetegui said that some teams were comfortable when they were included in the “Al Annabi” group in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but after the 1-1 draw with Switzerland in the first round, “our dictionary does not recognize pressure, and our arrival here prompts us to enjoy.”
In a press conference in Vancouver on the eve of facing Canada, one of the three host countries, the Spaniard said, “You saw the reactions after the draw… and this is normal. Today we want to prove how competitive we are.”
The Qatari team snatched its first point in the World Cup, when it scored a goal in stoppage time against Switzerland in the first round in the American city of Santa Clara.
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The former Spain national team coach continued, “We are not thinking now if we have a point or otherwise. We have energy that we must exploit in the right direction.”
Qatar participated for the first time in the World Cup in 2022 when it hosted the first finals in the Middle East, but it came out with a disappointing result after losing the three matches in the group stage.
After Switzerland
Lopetegui considered that his team had forgotten about the match against Switzerland and was focusing on facing Canada. “Switzerland’s attack is different from Canada’s. They have distinguished offensive players and we must be ready for them and enjoy the competition.”
He added, “The Canadian team knows how to attack, and it is a fierce team that applies a lot of pressure.”
Like Qatar, Canada tied the first match with Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1, and is still chasing its first victory in the finals.
In turn, midfielder Abdulaziz Khatam explained the circumstances of the first participation in 2022, “It was the first time and we were under a lot of pressure. We did not have the experience and expertise.”
He added, “In this version, we are prepared and we will see how things unfold.”
