With Qatar’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup hanging by a thread, coach Marquez Lopez insists his players "will fight until the last breath" in a must-win match against Uzbekistan. On Thursday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, the two-time Asian champions face an unbeaten Uzbekistan side riding high on confidence, as the White Wolves chase a historic first-ever World Cup appearance. The Central Asian team currently sits on 10 points—level with Iran, as both teams hold the two automatic qualifying spots in Group A.
Qatar’s position is far more precarious, with just four points from four matches. A six-point gap between them and the top two makes Lopez's task all the more daunting. A defeat to Uzbekistan Thursday, coupled with an Iran victory against North Korea in Vientiane, Laos, would widen that gap to nine points—a nearly insurmountable distance, even with half of the qualifying campaign still to go.
It's a reality not lost on Lopez, who faces immense pressure as his job comes under increasing scrutiny just nine months after leading Qatar to a second Asian Cup title at home. While Qatar forwards have been in fine form, it’s the team’s defence frailties that has haunted Lopez. Injuries to key defenders – including Pedro Miguel has not helped his cause as he hopes to bring in fine balance in defence and attack.
Qatar lost both their matches against the United Arab Emirates and Iran after taking the lead. While Lopez has bolstered his side with the incl.
