Al Haydos comes out of retirement as Qatar target World Cup spot

Doha, Qatar: Qatar superstar Hassan Al Haydos will make a dramatic return to international football, just months after his retirement. The Qatar Fo...

Doha, Qatar: Qatar superstar Hassan Al Haydos will make a dramatic return to international football, just months after his retirement.

The Qatar Football Association (QFA) yesterday announced that the former Qatar captain will rejoin the Al Annabi squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification play-offs.

The veteran striker’s return comes following a request of the new head coach Julen Lopetegui, who aims to inject Al Haydos’ valuable experience into the squad ahead of the high-stakes matches.

In a statement released yesterday, the QFA said: “Hassan Al Haydos is at the forefront of the national team squad for the 2026 World Cup qualification play-offs, in a positive move responding to coach Julen Lopetegui’s request to strengthen the team with experienced players.”

QFA reiterated the importance of the return of the 34-year-old as Qatar aims to secure a ticket to next FIFA World Cup, adding: “His presence is expected to bring both technical and emotional value, providing leadership and support in the pursuit of the big dream that will delight Al Annabi’s fans - the dream of securing a place at the World Cup.”