Qatar aim to keep up their winning run against Uzbekistan in Tashkent
AFC/TNN
Tashkent
Qatar will look to continue their winning run against Uzbekistan at the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent for their concluding AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 Group A tie on Tuesday.
Al Annabi sealed their place in the playoffs - where an additional two spots to the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be at stake - with a 1-0 win over Iran on Thursday.
It was Spaniard Julen Lopetegui's first match in charge as head coach and the tactician will expect his side to take full points as they set their eyes on the playoffs.
'We have another match ahead of us, and we must also focus because it will be an important building block for what's to come,' said Lopetegui after The morale boosting win against Iran.
Ahead of the clash against Uzbekistan, Lopetegui reiterated, 'This match will be an important and challenging test for us ahead of the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers in October. We need to maintain our standard of high-quality football and control the tempo of the game.'
'We are fully aware of the strength of the Uzbek team, which is one of the best in Asia. That's why we must give our maximum effort and perform at our highest level.'
'I have full confidence in our players' ability to rise to the occasion and reflect the hard work we've put in during preparation. Everyone is committed and determined to give their best performance.'
Qatar player Abdulaziz Hatem said, 'Our preparations for this match have gone well, especially following our important victory over Iran in the previous round, which secured our qualification for the fourth round of the qualifiers.'
'Tomorrow's match against Uzbekistan will be an important test as we prepare for the next stage of the qualifiers, so we must approach it with full seriousness.'
'Our matches against Uzbekistan are always intense and exciting, and we expect tomorrow's game to be no different. We will strive to perform at our best and give it everything we've got.'
Meanwhile fans will expect a party-like atmosphere when Uzbekistan welcome Qatar.
The Central Asian side sealed qualification to an inaugural FIFA World Cup Finals on Thursday and will want to end their campaign with victory in front of their fans.
Thursday's qualification was greeted with joy as Uzbekistan ended their long wait to appear on the global stage, with head coach Timur Kapadze applauding his players for getting across the finish line despite the immense pressure.
'We overcame a lot of pressure. Before the game, fans, sports websites and experts expressed their confidence in our team's victory and expected a good result from us. This confidence also became a great responsibility and pressure for us. But we managed to overcome this pressure and complete the task.
'For the next match, we will prepare adequately although several players who have not featured much may be given the chance to play,' said the tactician, with there still being a possibility of Uzbekistan topping the group with a win should Islamic Republic of Iran lose to DPR Korea.
Qatar have 13 points with four wins. Iran top the group with 20 points, followed by Uzbekistan (18), the UAE (14), Qatar (13), Kyrgyzstan (7), and North Korea (3). Iran and Uzbekistan have both secured automatic qualification to the World Cup.
Eighteen teams have qualified for the current stage that was divided into three groups, each containing six teams competing in a split league system of two home and away stages.
The first and second-placed teams from each group qualify directly for the World Cup.
The third and fourth-placed teams in each group advance to the fourth round, which will see the teams divided into two groups of three.
The top team in each group will qualify for the World Cup, while the second-placed teams will play a continental play-off to qualify for the World Cup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Team Qatar set for Asian Men's Volleyball Cup in Bahrain
QOC Manama Team Qatar are intensifying their preparations in Bahrain for the sixth edition of the Asian Men's Volleyball Cup, which runs through June 24, with high hopes of defending the continental title it won in 2024 and further cementing Qatar's strong presence on the Asian volleyball scene. Under the leadership of Argentine coach Camilo Soto, the team is focusing on boosting both technical and physical readiness. The current phase follows a comprehensive training program that began in Doha, including specialized drills and high-level friendly matches, most notably against Japan—one of Asia's volleyball powerhouses. Although Qatar's scheduled opening match against Kazakhstan was canceled following the latter's official withdrawal from the tournament for personal reasons, the coaching staff opted not to arrange a replacement fixture. Instead, they decided to maintain the pre-set preparation schedule to avoid any disruption to the team's rhythm or mental focus. The decision reflects the squad's strong commitment to achieving optimal readiness ahead of their upcoming clash with Australia on June 19—a match that will likely determine the top spot in Group B. Both Qatar and Australia have already advanced automatically to the quarter-finals due to Kazakhstan's withdrawal, making the showdown between the two a decisive step toward the title. The knockout stage is set to begin on June 21, followed by the semi-finals on June 23, and the final on June 24, all taking place at Isa bin Rashid Hall in Riffa. This year's tournament features three groups, with most groups comprising three teams each following Kazakhstan's withdrawal, reducing the total number of participating teams to 11. The top two teams from each group will advance to the single-elimination quarter-finals. Team Qatar enters the tournament as the reigning champions, having won the 2024 edition—also held in Bahrain—when the event was known as the Asian Challenge Cup, following a well-deserved victory over Pakistan in the final. Now, the team is looking to build on that triumph and pursue back-to-back continental titles.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Basketball Federation unveils 2025 calendar
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has revealed its event calendar for 2025, which features a range of camps and both official and friendly participations for national teams. The initiative is part of a broader strategy designed to improve the technical preparedness of players and to broaden their international exposure in anticipation of forthcoming continental and global competitions. The Qatar men's national team 'A' will commence its training for the FIBA Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17, 2025. Preparations will include an external training camp in Turkey, set to occur from June 18 to July 3, 2025. This camp will focus on intensive training overseen by the technical staff, along with friendly matches aimed at enhancing both physical and tactical fitness. The tournament draw has placed the Qatari national team in Group A, alongside Australia, Lebanon, and South Korea, a grouping that observers have characterized as formidable. This presents additional challenges for the Qatari team as they strive to advance to the knockout stage. The winners of the group will qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while the teams finishing in second and third place will compete in playoffs to secure the remaining positions. The team will further its preparations in Doha from July 8 to 14, 2025, during which they will engage in friendly matches against Asian teams, before traveling to South Korea for a training camp from July 16 to 21, 2025. This camp will feature a series of friendly matches from July 18 to 20, offering valuable experience in competing against advanced Asian teams. Additionally, QBF has announced the hosting of an international friendly tournament at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall from July 25 to August 1, 2025, which will include the national teams of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Japan. This tournament will provide the technical staff with an additional chance to evaluate their final preparedness prior to competing in the Asian Cup. Qatar's men's national team 'B' is also gearing up to take part in the esteemed William Jones Cup, organized by the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) from July 12 to 20, 2025. The team will commence its participation with an internal training camp in Doha until July 10, which will encompass physical and technical assessments to finalize the roster. The William Jones Cup is recognized as one of the oldest unofficial international basketball tournaments, with its inaugural edition launched in 1977. Named in honor of the late FIBA founder, Renato William Jones, the tournament includes national teams and university clubs from across the globe, serving as an excellent platform for interaction and performance enhancement. The B team will also compete in the Arab Youth Championship, scheduled to take place in Nabeul, Tunisia, from July 23 to August 3, 2025, aimed at elevating the level of competition and acquiring further continental experience. At the youth level, the Qatari U-16 team is preparing to participate in the Gulf Cooperation Council U-16 Championship, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain from July 7 to 13, 2025, which will serve as a qualifier for the AFC U-16 Asian Cup Finals, set to occur in Mongolia next September. On the occasion, Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary-General of Qatar Basketball Federation, and Director of National Teams, stated: 'We are heading into an exceptional year of work and preparation, which requires great cooperation from everyone: administrators, players, and the technical staff, to achieve our desired goals. We have developed a comprehensive plan for the national teams of all categories, ensuring the highest levels of readiness through external training camps and participation in specialized tournaments. The men's team's participation in the Asian Cup in Jeddah represents a crucial milestone, and we are confident in our players' abilities to perform to an honorable standard.' Al Kuwari added: 'Our participation in the historic William Jones Tournament and friendly tournaments also confirms our commitment to creating an optimal environment for interaction and development. We also pay special attention to the age groups, and we view the Gulf Junior Championship as an important gateway to emerging on the Asian stage. We are working to create a new generation of players who will represent the future of the game in Qatar.' Al Kuwari concluded his remarks by emphasizing the institutional partnerships that support the success of this plan, praising the cooperation of the Qatar Olympic Committee, the clubs, and all supporters of national basketball.
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Al Jazeera
Inter's Mehdi Taremi could miss Club World Cup amid Israel-Iran attacks
Inter Milan's Iranian forward Mehdi Taremi could miss the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States after being unable to leave his home country to join his team amid Iran's airspace closure due to its ongoing exchange of aerial fire with Israel. Taremi, who was named in Inter's squad for the 32-team tournament, was expected to link up with his team in Los Angeles as they gear up for the tournament, but media reports in Italy and the US said on Saturday that the striker is likely to miss the first match on Tuesday and perhaps the entire competition. 'The Iranian striker will not join the Nerazzurri, neither for the first match nor for the others,' Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Saturday. 'Inter have been in close contact with the Iranian authorities in Italy over the last 24 hours to comfort the player and try [to find] a solution that is currently impossible. The player is in Tehran in a safe place and sheltered from the bombings,' the report added. The Italian side open their campaign against the Mexican side, Monterrey FC, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Los Angeles, on Tuesday, but Taremi is unlikely to be part of the squad. The 32-year-old captains Iran and was among the goal scorers as they beat North Korea in their AFC World Cup qualifying match at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on June 10. A day later, he won the inaugural Iranian Toopa Award (Golden Ball). While it is unclear when the forward was scheduled to fly out of Tehran, his departure for the US was put on hold when Israel began its attacks on Iran on Friday morning, leading to the indefinite closure of its airspace. Iran responded to the attacks later on the same day, and both countries have been involved in an exchange of fire ever since. Taremi, who joined Inter Milan on a three-year contract in July 2024, has scored three goals in 43 appearances for the Nerazzurri. Milan and their opening-game opponents Monterrey are placed in Group E for the Club World Cup alongside Argentinian club River Plate and Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds.
