Qatar’s Muntari Returns for Pivotal World Cup Qualifiers Against Uzbekistan and UAE

DOHA – Veteran striker Mohammed Muntari has made a timely return to Qatar’s national squad as head coach Marquez Lopez included the forward for two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates. Muntari’s comeback follows a lengthy recovery from a severe knee injury sustained during a friendly against Cambodia last December, which sidelined him for months ahead of the AFC Asian Cup.

Muntari, 30, recently resumed competitive play with his club Al Gharafa in the Qatar Stars League, making an immediate impact. He scored against his former club Al Duhail and followed it with another goal off the bench against Al Arabi. Despite limited minutes, Muntari has proven his scoring prowess, even briefly featuring in Al Gharafa’s 1-1 draw with Persepolis in the AFC Champions League earlier this week.

Qatar’s national team faces a challenging journey as they aim to qualify for the World Cup for the first time by merit, having previously only appeared as hosts in 2022. Currently, Qatar sits on just four points after four matches, trailing six points behind Group A leaders Iran and Uzbekistan, who hold the automatic qualifying spots. Lopez’s squad will first face a home fixture against Uzbekistan at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on November 16, followed by a tough away game in Abu Dhabi against the UAE on November 19. Qatar previously suffered a home defeat to the UAE, underscoring the high stakes of these next matches.

After a heavy 4-1 loss to Iran in their last qualifier, Qatar’s performance against Uzbekistan will be crucial to keep their qualification hopes alive. Coach Lopez has expressed confidence, stressing that his team can still turn around their fortunes despite the challenging group. “Our goal remains unchanged, which is to qualify for the World Cup, and the opportunity is still there,” Lopez said following last month’s defeat. “The mission is not easy, but we must fight for every chance and work hard to secure the points we need.”

In addition to Muntari’s return, Lopez has made several other strategic adjustments to the squad. He has included Al Sadd midfielder Mustafa Tariq and Al Duhail left-back Humam Al-Amin, while omitting Mohammed Ayash (Al Duhail), Naif Al-Hadhrami (Al Shahania), and Ahmed Alaa (Al Arabi). These changes reflect a tactical recalibration as Qatar looks to field a lineup capable of competing with in-form teams like Uzbekistan and Iran.

Historically, Qatar has come close to World Cup qualification only once before, in the run-up to the 1998 tournament, where they narrowly missed out to Saudi Arabia. In Asia’s current qualification format, the top two teams from each of the three groups secure automatic spots in the World Cup, while third and fourth-place teams advance to further qualifying rounds.

With Muntari’s return and a renewed squad, Qatar hopes to reverse its recent form and keep its World Cup dreams alive. The upcoming matches will be pivotal in determining whether Lopez and his team can overcome the odds and secure Qatar’s spot on the global stage.