The Anthem
As Salam al Amiri
▶ Listen on YouTube ↗“Swearing by the One who raised the sky…”
'Peace to the Emir'; adopted in 1996 when Qatar's modern era began.
The Legends
Names that echo
Almoez Ali
Forward · 2010s–20s
Set a record nine goals at the 2019 Asian Cup, which Qatar won.
Akram Afif
Forward · 2010s–20s
Creative star and a two-time Asian Footballer of the Year.
Hassan Al-Haydos
Forward · 2010s–20s
Long-serving captain and one of Qatar's most-capped players.
Fun Facts
Worth knowing
- 01
Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup — the first in the Arab world and the first played in November and December.
- 02
It won the 2019 Asian Cup, beating Japan in the final, the year before becoming host.
- 03
Despite a tiny population, Qatar's Aspire Academy has built a football pipeline almost from scratch.
At the World Cup
The story so far
Qatar's only previous World Cup came as 2022 hosts, where it became the first host nation ever to lose its opening match. 2026 is its first appearance earned through qualification.
Hosting the world
Qatar staged the first Middle Eastern World Cup — a logistically unprecedented, single-city tournament.
Kings of Asia
An emphatic Asian Cup triumph announced Qatar's golden generation a year before the home World Cup.
Group Stage