Qatar
The Maroons return to the World Cup stage. Qatar arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with experience, Asian champion pedigree and a point to prove after their difficult 2022 campaign as hosts. Drawn in Group B alongside Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland, Al Annabi face a balanced but demanding group — and this time, they will want to show they belong on the pitch rather than just as a former host nation.
History
Qatar’s football rise has been one of the most dramatic stories in Asian football. The Qatar Football Association was established in 1960, and the country has invested heavily in football development, national-team infrastructure and the Aspire Academy system. That long-term project helped create a generation capable of winning major Asian honours.
Their biggest football achievement came through the AFC Asian Cup. Qatar won the tournament in 2019, then retained the title in 2023, giving Al Annabi one of the strongest recent records in Asian international football. Those wins were built around a core of technically sharp, experienced players including Akram Afif and Almoez Ali.
Qatar’s first World Cup appearance came in 2022, when they hosted the tournament. On the pitch, it was a painful experience, with Qatar losing all three group matches. The 2026 World Cup gives them a very different challenge: qualifying away from home, travelling to North America, and trying to prove they can compete beyond the pressure and spotlight of hosting. They face Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland in Group B — a group where every match should feel competitive.
World Cup Group Opponents
Canada are one of the co-hosts and bring pace, home support and a rising football identity. With players such as Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, Canada have enough attacking threat to stretch any defence. For Qatar, this will be a test of discipline, game management and whether they can handle a hostile crowd.
Bosnia and Herzegovina bring emotion, experience and a strong return story of their own. With Edin Džeko still central to their identity and a new generation coming through, Bosnia will see Group B as a realistic opportunity. Qatar against Bosnia could become one of the key matches in the group.
Switzerland are the experienced European opponent and arguably the most awkward team in Group B. Organised, disciplined and consistently difficult to beat at major tournaments, Switzerland rarely give opponents easy chances. Qatar will need creativity and patience to find a way through.
Kit History & Colours
Maroon and white — Qatar’s kit identity is clean, distinctive and directly tied to the national flag. The deep maroon home shirt gives Al Annabi one of the more unique colour palettes in international football, standing apart from the more common reds, blues and whites seen across the tournament.
For mystery shirt fans, Qatar are an interesting World Cup pull because the shirt carries a very modern football story. This is a country connected to the 2022 World Cup, back-to-back Asian Cup success and a squad trying to turn regional strength into global respect. A Qatar shirt feels different, sharp and full of talking points — exactly the kind of country that adds variety to a World Cup Mystery Shirt Box.