Qatar facing tough situation in World Cup Qualifiers: Afif

Doha: Newly crowned Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif h (pictured) as admitted Qatar are facing tough challenge in the decisive round of the FIFA Wo...

Doha: Newly-crowned Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif h (pictured) as admitted Qatar are facing tough challenge in the decisive round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers, saying the team needs a quick turnaround.

The back-to-back Asian Cup champions and host of the last global finals are languishing in fourth in their six-team group, with only the top two in the phase receiving automatic World Cup qualification.

“It’s true that our situation in World Cup qualification is very tough. It’s not easy, this situation is different to the Asian Cup where you just play seven games and either you win the tournament or you go out in the knockout stage and that’s it,” Afif, who clinched the prestigious Asian award for the record-equaling second time in Seoul on Tuesday was quoted as saying by FIFA.com.

The qualification for the World Cup is a long-term one, over many months and if you don’t qualify [directly] there are also play-offs, so it’s like a marathon. Of course we are not happy with the points that we have so far, as players we try our best and sometimes we face difficult moments, difficult situations, bad results, it happens. This is part of football but the most important thing is how we come back, how we can find wins and make our fans and supporters happy.”

Sitting six adrift of section pacesetters Iran and Uzbekistan, the Maroons are approaching a critical qualification junction in the upcoming international window when they host the Uzbeks on November 14 before hopping across to Al Ain for a clash with United Arab Emirates five days later.