World Cup qualification shows growth of Qatari football, says Fifa boss Gianni Infantino

Fifa president Gianni Infantino congratulated Qatar for reaching the 2026 World Cup, saying their qualification for the tournament underlined the “growth and ambition” of football in the Gulf nation.

Goals from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel sealed a 2-1 victory over the UAE in their winner-take-all showdown at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday night.

The result means Qatar, who played in the 2022 tournament as hosts, head to North America next summer having clinched participation at the global finals on merit for the first time in their history.

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“After your historic hosting of the tournament in 2022, your team returns to the world stage, ready to demonstrate your growth and ambition, especially as this is the first time you have made it through the Asian qualifying competition. A great footballing achievement,” Infantino said.

“Fans from Qatar will bring colour and energy to North America in 2026, and all eyes will be on the next chapter of your football history.”

Despite huge optimism, Qatar endured a humbling experience in 2022 as the first Middle Eastern nation to stage the tournament.

They lost all three of their group games – to Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands – to go down as the worst-performing host nation in World Cup history.

With them also being the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, those results were perhaps not unexpected, and they appeared to have taken positives from their World Cup experience when they stormed to the Asian Cup title in 2023, their second in as many tournaments.

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They started the 2026 qualification process as one of the best-regarded sides in Asia, but a wretched campaign ensued with them beaten home and away by the UAE and only sneaking into the play-offs in fourth place behind Iran, Uzbekistan and the Emiratis.

Yet, they got over the line in Doha, making the most of home advantage, three extra days of rest and having 92 per cent of the supporters inside the stadium to see out a nervy 2-1 win.

For coach Julen Lopetegui, 2026 will give him a second crack at managing at a World Cup. At Russia 2018, he was sacked by Spain before a ball had been kicked for negotiating with Real Madrid while away with the national team.

Having only taken over in May, he has done what was asked of him and the challenge will now be to get the team back to their Asian Cup-winning form and prove more competitive than in 2022.

“It's one of the best days in my career,” Lopetegui said after Tuesday’s win.

“Today, I think it is one big achievement we have to enjoy. I am very happy for the fans, and the players – they worked hard and believed.

“I am very happy for this country, I am happy for me, my family and my staff. We are going to the World Cup and I hope we can make history.”