Lopetegui officially appointed Qatar national team coach

The Qatar Football Association announced on Thursday the appointment of Spaniard Julen Lopetegui as the new coach of the national team, succeeding his compatriot Luis Garcia. This decision came after the "consensual termination" of Garcia's contract. The QFA thanked the Spanish coach for his "professionalism and dedication to his work during the recent period," wishing him success in his future endeavors. Luis Garcia took over as head coach of the Qatari national team in December 2024 after the dismissal of Marquez Lopez, but failed to achieve the desired results. The Qatari team lost to Kyrgyzstan 3-1 last March in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which led to the team dropping to fourth place in the group with 10 points. Julen Lopetegui's tenure with the Qatari national team will begin with the remaining matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. His first assignment will be on June 5, 2025, when he faces Iran, followed by a tough match against Uzbekistan on June 10, 2025, in Tashkent. Julen Lopetegui, 55, has a distinguished coaching career, having coached the Spanish national team, Real Madrid, Porto, and Sevilla, and also led West Ham United before leaving the club four months ago. The Qatar Football Association described Lopetegui's career as "a distinguished career, both on and off the pitch," citing his extensive experience managing national teams and major clubs.