Lopetegui picks Ali in Qatar World Cup squad

Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui has included the country's all-time leading scorer Almoez Ali in his squad for the World Cup.

Ali, who has netted 60 goals in 126 appearances for the gulf state, is one of nine forwards named in the 26-man party by ex-Spain, Real Madrid, Wolves and West Ham boss Lopetegui.

Two-time Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif has also been selected as Qatar bid to improve on their efforts in 2022 when they became the first host nation to lose all three group matches.

Lopetegui, who was appointed in May 2025, declined to include former Doncaster and Peterborough defender Niall Mason, born in Brighton, who was named in the preliminary squad.

Veteran 42-year-old striker Sebastian Soria, who has scored 39 goals in 124 appearances for Qatar, also misses out.

Qatar face Switzerland in Santa Clara on 13 June before games against co-hosts Canada in Vancouver and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Seattle.

Goalkeepers: Salah Zakaria (Al-Duhail), Mahmoud Abunada (Al Rayyan), Meshaal Barsham (Al-Sadd)

Defenders: Hashmi Hussein (Al Arabi), Ayoub Alawi (Al Gharafa), Boualem Khoukhi (Al-Sadd), Pedro Miguel (Al-Sadd), Issa Laaye (Al Arabi), Lucas Mendes (Al-Wakrah), Sultan Al-Brake (Al-Duhail), Homam Al-Amin (Cultural Leonesa)

Midfielders: Mohammed Al-Manai (Al Shamal), Jassem Jaber (Al Arabi), Karim Boudiaf (Al-Duhail), Ahmed Fathi (Al Arabi), Abdulaziz Hatem (Al Rayyan), Assim Madibo (Al-Wakrah)

Forwards: Tahseen Mohammed (Al-Duhail), Edmilson Junior (Al-Duhail), Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail), Akram Afif (Al-Sadd), Mohammed Muntari (Al Gharafa), Youssef Abdulrazzaq (Al-Wakrah), Ahmed Alaa (Al Rayyan), Hassan Al-Haydos (Al-Sadd), Ahmed Al-Janahi (Al Gharafa)