CORNERFLICK
Julen Lopetegui said Qatar’s players should be proud of the progress they made at the 2026 World Cup, despite their exit in the group stage.
The Spanish coach was speaking after Qatar lost 3-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final group match. He described the tournament as positive overall and said his team had shown they can compete at this level.
Qatar’s draw with Switzerland in their opening game delivered the country’s first point in World Cup history. Lopetegui said that result, along with qualification for the finals, marked an important step forward for Qatari football.
He also said younger players should use the experience as a model for the future, while some senior members of the squad may have played in their final World Cup. Lopetegui added that when he arrived about a year ago, the aim was simply to reach the tournament, and said the group had achieved that target and made history.