Qatar head coach Julen Lopetegui hailed his team’s resilience after confirming their spot at next year’s World Cup, calling it a reward for their hard work.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts sealed a return to football’s biggest competition following their 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
It also marked a second-ever World Cup appearance for the Maroons and the first time they have secured their spot after passing through the qualifying process.
Lopetegui, who was appointed in May few months after departing West Ham United, said the qualification felt like redemption for the setbacks he’s faced in his career.
“It seems like life owed me a World Cup, and fortunately, today I got it. It’s a reward that I’m grateful for”, the former Real Madrid boss said.
“I’m very excited to be at a World Cup after what happened some years ago, and now it’s time to experience it with Qatar.
“There was a desire to be able to reach another World Cup, and that was an important factor in my decision to come here.”
The 59-year-old led Spain to qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but was dismissed by the Spanish FA few days to their tournament opener, having agreed a role with Real Madrid.
He was also part of the Spain’s squad for the 1994 World Cup as a goalkeeper, but did not feature in the tournament.
“We’ve been working for this moment for months and everything has turned out well,” he added.
“It’s a historic moment for the country, something that’s never been achieved before. The atmosphere has been extraordinary. We’re very happy.
“We have a much older group, we played with a 41-year-old player [Sebastian Soria] in the second half. We have to refine the group we’ll take to the World Cup”, Lopetegui concluded.
Qatar will find out their opponents for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when the draw takes place on the 5th of December.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
