Doha, July 05 (QNA) - Executive Director of the Qatar National Teams, Talal Al Kaabi, has stressed on Sunday that the Qatar National Team's participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 should be based on a thoroughgoing and objective assessment.
He added that this participation needs to focus on all positive and negative aspects that are associated with the team's competitions, starting from the qualifying campaign through their three World Cup matches.
The move to hasten prejudgment on the team's results in the finals would never help the advancement process, Al Kaabi recalled, affirming that what matters most is to chart the perfect pathway to build on the successes and address the shortfalls ahead of the upcoming participations.
Al Kaabi further noted that the team went through extremely uphill tasks in the finals and had pulled off overcoming them, thereby achieving a historic milestone by qualifying for the first time following their previous appearance at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as the host nation.
This achievement is commendable, Al Kaabi stressed, asserting that the footballers showcased superb levels throughout the qualifying campaign, making this generation the preeminent one in the history of Qatari football, a generation that deserves all gratitude.
Al Kaabi said every single generation has a footprint and accomplishments without prejudice to the previous generations, as long as the current generation has succeeded in deepening the standing of Qatari football on the world stage after winning the Asian Cup title twice.
The team achieved much-heralded levels in their participation in multiple international tournaments, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Copa America, and UEFA European Qualifiers, which literally helped advance this team, Al Kaabi underlined.
He noted that the recent stretch came with several challenges, most notably technical instability driven by repeated head coaching changes for the senior national team, before the program eventually settled on Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui.
آ  Al Kaabi further emphasized that the next phase requires maximum stability for the coaching staff, as it is one of the key drivers of success, while also giving the team ample time to execute a clear footballing vision and achieve the program's objectives.
Support isn't confined to the coaching staff alone, but extends to the players, front office personnel, medical staff, and all team operations members, Al Kaabi suggested, noting that everyone has put in significant work over the past period.
Al Kaabi explained that extraordinary circumstances in the region have recently disrupted parts of the preparation schedule, particularly the international friendlies that had been set for March, which in turn impacted aspects of the training camp buildup, without diminishing the overall workload carried out across all departments.
As such, he outlined planning for the next phase, noting that work is already underway and won't be confined to the senior national team, but will extend across all national sides, alongside ongoing coordination with domestic clubs in both local and international competitions.
Al Kaabi added that any national team's success starts with a fully integrated system operating under a long-term vision, which is the framework the relevant football authorities are keen to uphold in developing Qatari football.
On the issue of squad renewal and transition, Al Kaabi said the national team includes a top-rung of experienced players who have featured in two FIFA World Cup editions, representing a key technical asset that must be leveraged.
At the same time, he stressed that the next stage calls for gradually integrating young prospects capable of gaining experience over time, but only within a structured technical plan- avoiding wholesale or arbitrary changes made for their own sake- in order to preserve the team's identity and maintain its competitive consistency.
آ  Ahead of upcoming competitions, he said the team's preparation program for the AFC Asian Cup finals- set to be held in Saudi Arabia early next year- has been fully mapped out through a structured technical plan that includes a slate of international friendlies, as well as participation in the Gulf Cup scheduled for September, all designed to ensure peak readiness ahead of the continental tournament.
Al Kaabi noted that the coaching staff will look to maximize every upcoming FIFA international window, using each break to fine-tune the squad both technically and physically, strengthen on-field chemistry, and build cohesion aimed at competing at full strength and defending the Asian title.
He stressed the critical role of clubs in the next phase, calling for increased minutes for players- particularly emerging talents- in domestic competitions, given the direct impact on development and on expanding the talent pool available to the national setup.
Al Kaabi added that the Qatar Football Association and the Qatar Stars League are working to align the domestic calendar with international breaks and external commitments, helping create optimal conditions for national team preparation while also giving as many players as possible the chance to compete, gain experience, and test themselves across different levels, both domestically and abroad.
Finally, Al Kaabi affirmed that football success isn't defined by a single match or moment, but by a long-term, fully integrated system built on continuous development and sustained achievement, with the broader target of maintaining a place at the next FIFA World Cup.
He emphasized that the ultimate goal remains strengthening Qatar's standing in continental and global football through disciplined planning and collective work, ensuring sustained progress and a consistent presence on the world stage. (QNA)