Asian champions Qatar shift focus as World Cup qualifiers resume

Qatar will continue their pursuit of a maiden World Cup qualification as they face Kuwait on Thursday. Despite stability in the coaching staff, there have been significant changes in the lineup following their Asian Cup victory on home turf six weeks ago.

Marquez Lopez, who guided Qatar to a successful defence of their continental title last month, was awarded a contract until 2026 after taking over on an interim basis from Carlos Queiroz in December.

Despite a familiar face on the bench at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, there will be a new captain following Hassan Al-Haydos' retirement from international football.

The 33-year-old led the team to Asian Cup victories in 2019 and last month, as well as their disappointing performance as hosts of the 2022 World Cup, leaving a void in creativity within the team.

Lopes now leads a team that currently tops Group A with six points from wins against Afghanistan and India, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the next stage of the qualifiers.

Eight Asian nations will secure spots in the finals, with a ninth team progressing to an intercontinental playoff.

Qatar, the hosts of the 2022 World Cup, have never qualified for the finals, with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia claiming the Asian berths in the most recent edition.

On Thursday, Japan will face North Korea in Tokyo before a challenging trip to Pyongyang on Tuesday, marking their first international matches since the Asian Cup.

Japan leads Group B with six points from two games, while North Korea and Syria are tied on three points each, with Syria facing Myanmar.

South Korea will take on Thailand under interim coach Hwang Sun-hong, who replaced Jurgen Klinsmann after the German's dismissal following the Asian Cup.

Klinsmann's team was eliminated in the semi-finals of the continental championship after a disagreement involving captain Son Heung-min and Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in.

Group C is currently being led by the Koreans, who have accumulated six points. The Thais and China, on the other hand, are three points behind. In Group E, Iran and Uzbekistan are tied with four points each, and they will be facing host Turkmenistan and Hong Kong respectively.

Australia is at the top of Group I with maximum points, and they are set to face Lebanon. Meanwhile, Palestine will be playing against Bangladesh in Kuwait City due to the ongoing Gaza-Israel conflict.

Group G sees Saudi Arabia as the leaders, and they will be facing second-placed Tajikistan. Roberto Mancini's team holds a two-point advantage over the surprising Asian Cup quarter-finalists.