Doha, September 07 (QNA) - Qatar's national football team has concluded its preparations for a friendly match against Russia, scheduled for Sunday at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. The match serves as a key step in Qatar's build-up to the fourth round of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Under the guidance of Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui, the team focused on tactical and technical drills during training sessions.

Defender Ahmed Suhail emphasized the importance of the friendly, calling it a valuable opportunity to fine-tune the squad ahead of next month's playoff stage.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Suhail said that the team aims to reach peak readiness before the qualifiers.

"The coaching staff has worked on several key areas, and we hope to benefit from tomorrow's match, which is our final test in this preparation phase." the defender added.

Suhail also called on fans to support the team at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, saying the players are determined to deliver both performance and results to make them proud.

Forward Ahmed Alaa described the match against Russia as a crucial part of the team's preparation.

This will be Qatar's second friendly during the September international break, following a 2-2 draw against Bahrain earlier this week at Al Thumama Stadium.

Coach Lopetegui is still experimenting with lineups in search of a settled starting eleven, a process that was evident in the previous match.

The Russian team, ranked 35th globally, is also looking to gain technical insights from the friendly, having recently drawn 0–0 at home against Jordan.

The two sides last met on September 12, 2023, in a 1-1 draw, with Ahmed Alaa scoring for Qatar and Aleksandr Soldatenkov equalizing for Russia. Their previous encounter in 2016 saw Qatar win 2-1, with goals from Boualem Khoukhi and Karim Boudiaf.

Qatar, currently ranked 53rd in the world, has been drawn into Group A of the Asian playoff alongside the UAE and Oman. Group B features Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia. Both groups will be hosted in a centralized format from October 8 to 14, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia serving as hosts.

Qatar begins its playoff campaign against Oman on October 8, followed by a match against the UAE on October 14. Oman and the UAE will face off on October 11. (QNA)