The Qatar national football team (Arabic: منتخب قطر لكرة القدم), nicknamed The Maroons, represents Qatar in international football. The team is governed by the Qatar Football Association (QFA), a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF).
The team’s current head coach is Julen Lopetegui, with Akram Afif serving as captain. Qatar’s most capped player is Hassan Al-Haydos with 183 appearances, while Almoez Ali holds the record as top scorer with 60 goals.
Qatar plays its home matches at Khalifa International Stadium and Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, both located in Doha.
History
Early Development (Pre-1970)
Football was introduced to Qatar in the 1940s alongside oil discoveries. By 1948, expatriate workers staged the first official match. The Qatar Football Association (QFA) was established in 1960 and joined FIFA in 1963. Qatar’s debut international appearance came in 1970 at the inaugural Arabian Gulf Cup, where they lost 2–1 to Bahrain.
Growth (1970s–1990s)
Qatar began appearing in AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in 1975 and debuted at the 1980 Asian Cup. The team won its first Gulf Cup in 1992 on home soil. During the 1990s, they reached the final qualifying stages for the 1990 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, but narrowly missed out both times.
2000–2010
The early 2000s saw mixed performances, though Qatar won the 2004 Gulf Cup and hosted the 2006 Asian Games, where the under-23 side won gold. Despite strong regional performances, World Cup qualification remained elusive.
2010–2020
Qatar was named host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010. The team won the 2014 Gulf Cup and achieved its greatest triumph in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, defeating Japan 3–1 in the final. They conceded only one goal in the entire tournament.
Qatar also competed as a guest nation at the 2019 Copa América and the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, reaching the semi-finals of the latter.
2020–Present
The 2022 World Cup, hosted in Qatar, ended in disappointment. The Maroons lost all three group-stage matches, becoming the worst-performing host nation in tournament history. However, they redeemed themselves at the 2023 Asian Cup, hosted again in Doha, where they successfully defended their continental title, beating Jordan 3–1 in the final.
Achievements
- AFC Asian Cup: Champions (2) – 2019, 2023
- Arabian Gulf Cup: Champions (3) – 1992, 2004, 2014
- WAFF Championship: Champions (1) – 2013
- FIFA Arab Cup: Third place (2021)
- International Friendship Championship: Winners (2018)
Key Players
- Hassan Al-Haydos – record appearance holder (183 caps)
- Almoez Ali – top scorer (60 goals)
- Akram Afif – captain and 2023 Asian Cup hero
- Abdelkarim Hassan – defensive stalwart with over 130 caps
FIFA Rankings
- Highest: 34 (April & July 2024)
- Lowest: 113 (November 2010)
- Current: 53 (July 2025)
Rivalries
- Bahrain – regional Gulf rivalry since 1970.
- United Arab Emirates – intensified during the 2017–2021 diplomatic crisis, peaking at the 2019 Asian Cup semifinal.
- Saudi Arabia – long-standing rivalry with political and footballing dimensions.
Records
- Biggest win: Qatar 15–0 Bhutan (2015)
- Biggest defeat: Kuwait 9–0 Qatar (1973)
- World Cup appearances: 1 (2022, group stage)
- Asian Cup appearances: 12 (first in 1980)
Current Squad (September 2025)
Key names in the squad include:
- Goalkeepers: Meshaal Barsham, Salah Zakaria
- Defenders: Boualem Khoukhi, Tarek Salman, Bassam Al-Rawi
- Midfielders: Abdulaziz Hatem, Karim Boudiaf, Assim Madibo
- Forwards: Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Mohammed Muntari
Legacy
The Qatar national football team has grown from humble beginnings in the 1970s to become a two-time Asian champion. Hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup placed Qatar at the center of global football, while their 2019 and 2023 Asian Cup triumphs confirmed their rising stature in Asia. Despite controversies over naturalized players, Qatar continues to shape a footballing identity built on rapid growth, investment, and international competition.
