Qatar made its World Cup debut as the host nation in 2022—and was eliminated in the group stage without a single win. In 2026, the team will compete as a regular participant under new coach Julen Lopetegui, having qualified through the AFC qualifiers. This is a significant milestone for Qatari soccer.

Coach Julen Lopetegui named three goalkeepers for Al Annabi: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, and Salah Zakaria. Qatar is participating in the World Cup for the second time, following the 2022 home World Cup, where the team became the first host nation in history to be eliminated in the group stage. In Group D, they will face Argentina, Egypt, and host Canada. The trio of goalkeepers all play for clubs in the Qatar Stars League, a squad that deliberately relies on domestic talent.

Barsham is 28 years old; he was born in Khartoum, Sudan, to Sudanese parents and grew up in Doha. He holds both Qatari and Sudanese citizenship and has been developing since his early youth in the Al-Sadd youth academy, the country’s most prestigious club. At the 2022 World Cup on home soil, he was still the backup behind Saad Al Sheeb and did not see any action. What followed was a rapid rise: At the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, he started every match for Qatar, made saves in the final against Jordan, and was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper. With six Qatar Stars League titles, over 218 club appearances for Al Sadd, and now 54 international caps, he is the most experienced and consistent goalkeeper Qatar currently has. Lopetegui, who took over Qatar in May 2025, quickly relied on him as the backbone of the team for the tournament.

Barsham is compact, quick to react, and particularly strong at saving penalty kicks. What sets him apart in Qatar’s system-based soccer is his precision in building play, a trait that is more crucial than ever under the tactically demanding Lopetegui.

Abunada plays for Al Rayyan, one of the country’s most historic clubs, and is Lopetegui’s second-choice goalkeeper. He brings tournament experience to the table: he was also part of the squad for the 2022 World Cup, though he did not see any action. Since then, he has established himself as a reliable backup, making appearances in the Qatar Stars League and in the AFC Champions League qualifying rounds. As the second-string goalkeeper, his role is to challenge Barsham in daily training and to be ready at all times.

Zakaria is 26 years old, was born in Al-Sharqiyah, Egypt, and holds both Qatari and Egyptian citizenship. His club career has taken him from Al-Wakrah to a brief loan spell at Al-Gharafa and, since January 2021, to Al-Duhail, the only club where Qatar national team coaches like Marco Verratti and other top European players are under contract. This season, he has been the starting goalkeeper there, appearing in 30 league matches. With only six international appearances since 2022, he is the least experienced goalkeeper in the trio on the international stage, but has earned Lopetegui’s trust through consistent club performances.