Doha, March 19 (QNA) - Spanish coach Luis Garcia has confirmed the full readiness of the Qatari national team to face North Korea on Thursday, at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, as part of the seventh round of Group A matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Speaking at Tuesday's press conference, the coach highlighted the team's preparedness to secure victory and claim the three points, aiming to revive direct qualification hopes by securing one of the top two spots in the group.

Garcia expressed full confidence in his players’ ability to deliver their best performance during this crucial match, emphasizing that the team knows how to handle a dangerous opponent, particularly one excelling in swift counter-attacks. He stressed that the team is fully prepared for all possible scenarios, without compromising on achieving the desired result.

The coach underlined the importance of utilizing home advantage and fan support to achieve the goal. He expressed strong confidence in the great backing the team will receive from supporters, who have always rallied behind the players.

Garcia also pointed out that the technical staff has worked during the preparation phase to address some errors from previous matches. He noted that balance between defense and attack, as well as cohesion and understanding among the selected lineup, are key factors for tomorrow's match against North Korea.

Regarding the anticipated role of star player Akram Afif in helping the team navigate this stage, Garcia praised Afif's exceptional talent, which earned him the title of Asia's best player in recent years. He compared Afif's importance to Qatar with Lionel Messi's impact on Argentina, expressing confidence in Afif’s ability to deliver a stellar performance tomorrow to help the team secure victory.

Qatari player Homam Al Amin emphasized the competitive significance of the match against North Korea in the qualifiers, affirming that the target is to win three points and maintain direct qualification hopes.

Speaking at the press conference, Al Amin stated that the players are fully prepared for the encounter, aiming to capitalize on home and fan support. He also highlighted the team's focus on making up for lost points in previous rounds, stressing the need for a strong reaction starting with the North Korea match to keep direct qualification chances alive. He assured that all players will give their utmost effort to achieve the goal.

Qatar currently sits in fourth place with 7 points and is in dire need of three points to improve its standing in the group. Iran leads with 16 points, followed by Uzbekistan with 13 points, and the UAE in third with 10 points. North Korea is at the bottom with 2 points, one point behind fifth-placed Kyrgyzstan. (QNA)