Doha, Qatar: Seasoned defender Abdelkarim Hassan returned to Qatar squad as head coach Marquez Lopez named 27 players for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Kyrgyzstan and Iran. The two-time Asian champions will host Kyrgyzstan at the Al Thumama Stadium on October 10 before meeting Iran in Mashhad five days later. Lopez made several changes to the squad that lost 1-3 to United Arab Emirates and drew 2-2 against North Korea in their first two Group A games.
Hassan, who has not played for Qatar since the FIFA World Cup 2022, is the most notable inclusion in the team. The 31-year-old, who is currently playing for Al Wakrah, was handed an indefinite suspension by the Qatar Football Association (QFA) following an altercation with a fan over social media in the aftermath of Al Annabi’s early exit from the World Cup. The defender earlier this summer also settled a contract dispute with his former club Al Sadd before joining Al Wakrah.
Defender Pedro Miguel, who was injured during Al Sadd’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Iran’s Esteghlal on Monday, is not part of the Lopez’s squad. Al Ahli goalkeeper Marwan Sherif has replaced Al Wakrah’s Mohammed Al Bakri to join Lopez’s top choice Meshaal Barsham with Saad Al Sheeb and Salah Zakaria also retaining their spots. Lopez has also included Al Gharafa’s Ahmed Al Ganehi and Al Shahania’s Naif Al Hadhrami in squad for the crucial games with forwards Almoez Ali and Akram Afif set to spearhea.