The Qatar national football team prepares to face Kyrgyzstan in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match, with head coach Marquez Lopez emphasizing the importance of staying calm and focused. After disappointing results in their first two matches, including a loss to the United Arab Emirates and a draw with North Korea, Qatar is in need of points to keep their qualifying hopes alive. Lopez is confident in his team’s ability to bounce back and has been working on rectifying mistakes from previous matches.
The coach stressed the importance of playing without pressure and securing a victory in the upcoming match against Kyrgyzstan. Qatar, who had previously enjoyed an 11-match unbeaten streak, is counting on the support of their home fans to motivate them to perform well. Lopez also acknowledged that Kyrgyzstan would not be easy opponents, anticipating a tough challenge from the Central Asians. The team has studied their opponents thoroughly and developed strategies to help them achieve their objectives.
Qatar has made some changes to their squad, bringing in defender Abdelkarim Hassan and Boualem Khoukhi while retaining Edmilson Junior, who made his Qatar debut against North Korea. With injured Pedro Miguel ruled out for upcoming games, the coach is confident in the abilities of the players he has selected. Midfielder Jassim Jaber expressed the team’s focus on the upcoming match and the determination to secure their first victory in this round of qualifiers.
On the other side, Kyrgyzstan is also aiming for a win after losses to Iran and Uzbekistan in their previous matches. Coach Lisitsyn and player Valery Kichin emphasized the importance of the upcoming match and the team’s preparations to put up a strong performance against Qatar. The match between Qatar and Kyrgyzstan is set to kick off at 7 PM, with Uzbekistan and Iran also facing off in a top-of-the-table clash in Group A.
In other matches happening today, the UAE will host North Korea, seeking a victory after a loss to Iran. Coach Paulo Bento is eager for his team to claim victory ahead of a challenging game against Uzbekistan in the following days. The fixtures for today’s matches also include Jordan vs South Korea, Oman vs Kuwait, Iraq vs Palestine, Australia vs China, Bahrain vs Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia vs Japan, showcasing a lineup of exciting football action across various groups.