Qatar’s World Cup record leaves plenty to be desired, as they have never qualified for the competition prior to hosting it in 2022.
Felix Sanchez’s side were given a spot in the 2022 tournament following FIFA’s controversial decision to grant them hosting status back in 2010.
The nation’s first attempt at World Cup qualification came ahead of the 1978 competition in Argentina, where they were eliminated at the first-round stage.
That pattern continued until 1990, as they missed out on Italia ’90 by a single point in the final round of qualifying, followed by fourth-round exits ahead of the 2010 and 2014 competitions, before finishing bottom of Group A (Third Round) in trying to reach Russia 2018.
MORE: World Cup 2022 Group A schedule: Fixtures, times, dates for Qatar, Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador
Smallest nations to play in a World Cup
Qatar is the smallest nation by population size to reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with an estimated population of 2.8 million.
They will relish the chance to mix it with the superpowers of international football, although Sanchez’s underdogs go into the tournament as reigning AFC Asian Cup champions, after beating Japan in the final in the UAE in 2019.
However, they fall just outside of the top five smallest nations to compete at a World Cup.
Iceland, population 334,000, become the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup – and the only one with fewer than 1m people. pic.twitter.com/vTZTxl532n
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) October 9, 2017
How good is the 2022 Qatar team?
Qatar’s lack of World Cup pedigree makes it difficult to assess their progress in comparison to other international sides, and they are the third-lowest ranked side in the 2022 competition (50th).
Sanchez’s appointment in 2017, after spells within the underage set-up, triggered a clear improvement in performances and results.
Alongside their first major trophy, in 2019, Qatar have played a marathon round of friendly and competitive games to prepare for the tournament.
They have competed in a huge 39 international matches since December 2020 — with no qualification to test themselves against.
Five friendly wins during a training camp in Spain across October and November has boosted confidence, and the hosts will be well drilled and motivated, looking to avoid bowing out of the competition at the first hurdle.
Netherlands and Senegal look almost certain to ease out of Group A, but if Qatar can avoid defeat to Ecuador on opening night, they will be confident of dodging last place in the group.
How did Qatar qualify for the World Cup?
After securing host status for 2022, Qatar’s plans to challenge for a place in the 2014 World Cup fell short, and the national FA looked to readjust.
Following FIFA permission, they were granted a special place in UEFA’s Group A of qualification, as a non-competitive side.
They unsurprisingly lost home and away against Portugal and Serbia, but secured confidence boosting wins elsewhere, against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan.
Additionally, Qatar have looked to compete in every available tournament in recent years, including reaching the final of the 2021 Arab Cup, the last four of the 2019 Gulf Cup, alongside accepting invitations to join the 2019 Copa America and the 2021 CONCAF Gold Cup.
Who is Qatar’s best player?
As the eyes of the world turn to Qatar, even more focus will be placed on their performances on the pitch, with Sanchez looking to balance expectations for the home side against their clear limitations.
Sanchez can count on key experience through his domestic based squad, with Abdelkarim Hassan, Karim Boudaif and skipper Hassan Al-Haydos boasting almost 400 international caps combined.
However, the outside interest will be on Al Sadd striker Akram Afif following his rise to prominence for club and country.
The 25-year-old is one of rare examples of a Qatari internationals playing outside the country in his career, following academy spells with Villarreal and Sevilla in Spain, and an eye-catching stint at Belgian side KAS Eupen.
His return to Al Sadd in 2017 reignited his career, with 60 league goals in the last four seasons, with former coach Xavi highlighting him as a genuine talent, as part of the 2020/21 title winning team.
Who is Qatar’s coach?
Sanchez made the choice to swap Barcelona’s youth coaching ranks for a lucrative offer within the Qatari Aspire Academy in 2006.
Following a steady rise from managing at Under-19 and Under-23 level, the Catalan boss was appointed as Jorge Fossati’s replacement with the senior team, in July2017.
From their comparative previous position, Sanchez has transformed Qatar as a national team, with success in the 2019 Asian Cup changing the narrative after years of frustration.
However, he is aiming higher than continental trophies, with the Gold Cup and Copa America cameos providing him with a measure of where his team are in the global picture.
What is Qatar’s league called?
All 26 of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup squad ply their trade in the Qatar Stars League, as the top-flight of domestic football in the country.
Since its inception ahead of the 1971-72 season, the league has been dominated by Al Sadd, with 16 league titles, as the division changed its original name from the Q League to the Qatar Stars League in 2009.
On the continental scene, Qatari club sides have struggled to make a clear impact, up against teams from Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea in the AFC Champions League, with Al Sadd’s 2011 title their only success in the competition, although they did win the Asian Club Championship back in 1988-89.
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