Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Press Center (QPC) held a panel discussion yesterday titled“The Road to World Cup 2026,” coinciding with the Qatari national team's participation in the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers - the continental playoff - for a place in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted next summer by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Qatari national team is set to face Oman on Wednesday at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Group A of the playoff stage. The panel, moderated by sports journalist Ali Issa Rashid, Chairman of the Sports Committee at the Qatar Press Center, focused on Qatar's chances in the Asian playoff and the team's readiness ahead of the crucial match against Oman. It also touched on related issues such as fan attendance, ticketing, and seating allocations for visiting supporters.

Majed Al Khulaifi, Editor-in-Chief of Stad Doha newspaper, emphasised the weight of responsibility in these decisive qualifiers, which serve as the final path to the World Cup. He highlighted the significance of the match against Oman, noting that Qatar has a strong track record against them in previous encounters. However, he pointed out that the situation could be more challenging against the UAE, which has recently strengthened its squad with new additions.

Al Khulaifi cautioned against underestimating Oman's abilities, describing them as a strong and well-prepared team under the leadership of their coach, Carlos Queiroz - the former Qatar national team manager. He added that the match against the UAE, coached by Romania's Cosmin Olaroiu - who previously managed Al Sadd - would also be a tough test, given his familiarity with Qatari football.

Former national team star Khalid Salman also expressed hope that team Qatar would reach the 2026 World Cup by winning their matches against both Oman and the UAE. He emphasized the historical importance of this stage, noting that Qatar has a chance to qualify for the World Cup for the second time in a row, following their participation in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

“We are just one step away from reaching the World Cup, and we need everyone to come together behind the team. This is a national mission above all else,” Salman said.

Khalid Mubarak Al Kuwari, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Qatar Football Association, affirmed the high expectations surrounding the national team's success and qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

He noted that the association recently launched a promotional campaign to support Al Annabi across its official platforms.“Seventy-five percent of tickets for the Oman match have already been sold,” he said, adding that it's crucial to take full advantage of playing on home soil and in front of home fans.

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