Compete, not compare: Lopetegui sets Qatar World Cup tone

Doha, Qatar: Switzerland, Canada or Bosnia and Herzegovina. The opponents in Qatar’s Group B campaign at the FIFA World Cup 2026 matter little to Julen Lopetegui. sportnewz.click

For the Qatar head coach, the focus is not on who stands across the pitch, but on how his side responds when the tournament begins in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“I am not worried about whether we face Bosnia, Italy, Wales or Switzerland. What concerns me is how we compete,” Lopetegui said following the announcement of Qatar’s final 26-man squad.

“In theory, any of those teams may be stronger than us, but they have to prove that on the pitch. Our job is to defend our chances and compete from the first minute.”

The two-time Asian champions will open their campaign against Switzerland on June 13 in the San Francisco Bay Area, before facing co-hosts Canada in Vancouver on June 18 - falling at 1am on June 19 in Qatar - and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24.

Qatar’s place at a second consecutive World Cup carries a different meaning this time, having been secured through the competitive qualification pathway for the first time.

“This is a dream that has become a reality because the players earned their place at the World Cup. Now they have to enjoy the experience, but at the same time maintain the right mentality. We are not going there just to participate. We are there to compete, to enjoy the challenge and to give our best.”

The former Spain and Real Madrid coach said the journey has now moved into a more demanding phase where expectation replaces celebration.

“What happened in the past is history. Before, reaching the World Cup was a dream, and we achieved it. Now we have another dream and a bigger challenge ahead of us. We have worked very hard to put ourselves in this position and we must continue working hard to turn this opportunity into something special,” the coach said.

“We need the support of the whole country, but we also want the fans to enjoy this journey and be excited by the fact that Qatar will be competing on the world’s biggest stage. I am sure they will support us.”

Qatar players during a training session in Santa Barbara.

Internal competition driving standards

Lopetegui’s squad selection for the World Cup roster reflects a deliberate balance between continuity and fresh energy, with the Qatar coach retaining the core of an experienced group that has been central to recent continental success while also rewarding emerging performers who have forced their way into contention.

Senior players such as Hassan Al Haydos, Pedro Miguel and Boualem Khoukhi remain part of the spine of the side, bringing leadership and continuity, while younger names like Jassim Gaber, Mohammed Mannai and Tahsin Mohammed underline the fresh competition pushing through the ranks.

“It is always important for young players to push the more experienced ones. That is very good for the national team. At the moment, we have two or three new players who are really pushing hard and challenging the others in the squad. This raises the level of everyone and creates healthy competition within the team.”

The coach stressed that this internal push has lifted intensity across positions, with established players now required to consistently defend their places as Qatar build a squad driven by merit rather than hierarchy.

“Competition is important because it makes players more competitive. The experienced players have to be ready to defend their places, and that also says a lot about their character. We have seen this kind of character in several players, which is very positive for us,” he said.

The coach hailed players’ determination as they undergo final preparations in Santa Barbara, California.

“Since the day we arrived, all the players have given their best in every training session. They are excited to be here and eager to represent their country. I felt that from the very first day, and for me that is the most important thing,” said Lopetegui.

“I am very proud of many things about this group, and I hope to remain proud of them because I am confident they will show their very best.”

Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates Football Association announced on Saturday that it had terminated the contract of the national team's head coach, Romanian manager Cosmin Olaroiu, along with his coaching staff.

In a statement, the association said the decision was made as part of preparations for the next phase of the national team's development and aligns with its objectives and plans to strengthen the squad's readiness for upcoming competitions.

It added that a replacement coach would be announced at a later date.

Olaroiu was appointed head coach of the UAE national team in April 2025 under a contract that was set to run through 2027.

However, he failed to guide the team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the UAE was eliminated by Iraq in the Asian playoff.

The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, while Iraq secured qualification with a 2-1 victory in the return match.

Paris: Aryna Sabalenka's bid for a first French Open title was left in tatters as she fell apart in a bizarre defeat by Russian 25th seed Diana Shnaider in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The world number one led by a set and a double-break before exiting the tournament in a blaze of unforced errors, collapsing to a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss in blustery conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier.

"I feel like when I saw her (Sabalenka) being emotional, I was, like, 'Yes, like, you are in the right direction, you've got to stay, just focus on yourself, don't focus too much on her, what she's talking to her team or whatever she's doing'," said Shnaider after beating a top-10 player for only the second time in her career.

Shnaider will face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the semi-finals on Thursday, with Marta Kostyuk or Mirra Andreeva awaiting the winner in Sunday's final.

الأخبارEgypt’s fairytale ends, but history is madeDoha, Qatar: For 78 unforgettable minutes in Houston, Egypt stood on the brink of history. Two goals ahead against reigning champions Argentina, the Pharaohs were within touchin...فتح →

"She's a very tricky player, so I'm not surprised that she's good. Sometimes, it just takes time," said the 22-year-old Shnaider of Chwalinska, who she beat at a lower-tier event in Istanbul four years ago.

Sabalenka was the only Grand Slam champion left in either the men's or women's singles draws at Roland Garros, but belied that status by making a whopping 57 unforced errors.

"You know those rooms where you just go in and you smash everything?," smiled Sabalenka when asked how she would get over the defeat.

"Probably I will spend a whole day tomorrow over there destroying stuff. Maybe it will help, maybe not."

Shnaider was playing in her first major quarter-final, but now finds herself a strong favourite to reach the final heading into her last-four tie against world number 114 and fellow left-hander Chwalinska.

"Definitely a special tournament for me here," added the Russian.

"It's going be a lefty battle so I'm looking forward (to the semi-final)."

Sabalenka's scarcely believable defeat was reminiscent of the way she threw away a strong position in last year's final against Coco Gauff.

"I knew the final, last year, I watched it. I knew that it was also super windy," said Shnaider.

"So of course I had that thought in the back of my mind that she was struggling with Coco last year. I was, like, 'Yeah, I've got to use this opportunity, I need to just adjust and do my best'."

Belarusian Sabalenka was playing in a 14th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final but failed to become the first woman to make seven straight major semis since Serena Williams.

The top seed raced into a 5-1 lead and eventually sealed the opener on her third set point after initially failing to serve it out.

The second set followed a similar pattern at first, as Sabalenka moved 4-1 in front with a double-break before throwing away her next service game.

Sabalenka became increasingly frustrated as she gifted Shnaider three break points to level at 4-4.

After some animated remonstrating with her box, she recomposed herself enough to hold.

But the 28-year-old's game continued to come apart, as a string of dreadful unforced errors allowed Shnaider to break again and tie up the set at 5-5, with Sabalenka left to gesticulate wildly towards her coaching staff.

Shnaider could not believe her luck as Sabalenka dumped successive forehands into the bottom of the net to finish off the set and send the match into a decider.

The Russian grew in confidence and moved 2-0 up in the third as Sabalenka sprayed eight unforced errors around Chatrier in the space of two games.

Shnaider cruised to victory from there, fittingly securing a semi-final berth when Sabalenka knocked a routine backhand into the net on the third match point.

A stunned world number one was left to trudge off court after winning just 14 points in the deciding set.