Qatar's first-ever World Cup squad has been announced as they prepare to host this year's showpiece
Qatar are set to make their first-ever World Cup appearance after automatically qualifying for the 2022 edition as the host nation.
However, they are not completely new to major tournaments as AFC Asian Cup regulars, having even lifted that trophy back in 2019, while also clinching a third-place finish in the 2021 Arab Cup.
Spanish manager Felix Sanchez has literally grown old with the squad from managing the Aspire Academy in the country from 2006 to taking charge of the Qatar U-19 and U-23 sides, before taking charge of the senior national team in 2017.
will be playing the tournament opener against Ecuador on November 20, before facing Senegal and the Netherlands in Group A.
Here are the 26 players who will make history by being the first to represent Qatar at the World Cup finals.
ALSO READ: World Cup 2022 Group A: Fixtures, results, standings, squads & full details
- Kamal Al Mobasher
GOALKEEPERS
Saad Al Sheeb of Al-Sadd is undoubtedly the first-choice goalkeeper for Qatar, with his club team-mate Mashaal Barsham serving as his deputy.
Youssef Hassan makes the cut, too, but Salah Zakaria has been dropped.
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Name
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Club
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Saad Al Sheeb
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Al-Sadd
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Youssef Hassan
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Al-Gharafa
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Meshaal Barsham
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Al-Sadd
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DEFENDERS
Abdelkarim Hassan is a household name and has over 100 caps under his belt, with Boualem Khoukhi and Ro-Ro offering plenty of experience as well.
Mohammed Emad has been dropped but Jassem Gaber, who is also yet to make his first international appearance at senior level, has been included.
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Name
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Club
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Ro-Ro
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Al-Sadd
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Abdelkarim Hassan
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Al-Sadd
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Tarek Salman
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Al-Sadd
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Musab Kheder
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Al-Sadd
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Homam Ahmed
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Al-Gharafa
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Bassam Al-Rawi
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Al-Duhail
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Boualem Khoukhi
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Al-Sadd
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Jassem Gaber
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Al-Arabi
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MIDFIELDERS
Mohammed Waad cuts an interesting figure in midfield, having been born in Iraq, but representing Qatar at international level.
Abdulaziz Hatm, Karim Boudiaf and Ali Assadalla are among the experienced ones in the squad, among youngsters such as Mostafa Tarek and Osama Al-Tairi.
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Name
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Club
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Abdulaziz Hatem
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Al-Rayyan
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Mohammed Waad
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Al-Sadd
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Ali Assadalla
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Al-Sadd
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Salem Al-Hajri
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Al-Sadd
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Karim Boudiaf
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Al-Duhail
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Assim Madibo
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Al-Duhail
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Mostafa Tarek
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Al-Sadd
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ATTACKERS
Hassan Al-Haydos is Qatar's most capped player of all time with over 160 appearances and a prolific goalscorer as well.
Left winger Akram Afif is another certainty, with star striker Almoez Ali ready to lead the line.
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Name
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Club
|
|
Akram Afif
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Al-Sadd
|
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Ahmed Alaaeldin
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Al-Gharafa
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Mohammed Muntari
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Al-Duhail
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Hassan Al-Haydos
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Al-Sadd
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Ismaeel Mohammad
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Al-Duhail
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Khalid Muneer
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Al-Wakrah
|
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Almoez Ali
|
Al-Duhail
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Naif Al-Hadhrami
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Al-Rayyan
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