Hosts Qatar are appearing at their first ever World Cup and have set their sights on upsetting the odds and getting out of their group.
Qatar have been written off by many but they won the 2019 Asian Cup, did well at the 2019 Copa America and reached the semi-finals of the 2021 Gold Cup.
Here’s everything you need to know about Qatar…
Coach: Felix Sanchez. The Spaniard has been in Qatar since 2006. He has no club experience but, after failing to guide Qatar to the 2018 World Cup, led them to their 2019 Asian Cup triumph.
Captain: Hassan Al-Haydos. The forward is vastly experienced and has over 168 caps.
Star player: Akram Afif. A talented forward who was named Asian Footballer of the Year in 2019.
One to watch: Bassam Al-Rawi. Only 24 but the centre-back already has over 50 caps.
World ranking: 50th
Odds: 500-1
Best thing about them: Sanchez has worked hard to develop them into an attractive, passing team.
Worst thing about them: Given the controversy around this tournament, will the Qatar team get the usual wider support hosts do at tournaments?
Their prospects in three words: Hoping for last-16.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
November 20 vs Ecuador (4pm)
November 25 vs Senegal (1pm)
November 29 vs Netherlands (3pm)
Squad in full
Goalkeepers: Saad Alsheeb, Meshaal Barsham, Yousef Hassan.
Defenders: Pedro Miguel, Musaab Khidir, Tarek Salman, Bassam Al-Rawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan, Homam Ahmed, Jassem Gaber.
Midfielders: Ali Asad, Assim Modibo, Mohammed Waad, Salem Al-Hajri, Moustafa Tarek, Karim Boudiaf, Abdelaziz Hatim, Ismail Mohamad.
Forwards: Naif Alhadhrami, Ahmed Alaaeldin, Hassan Al-Haydos, Khalid Muneer, Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Mohamed Muntari.
