Copy of 2022-11-11T184510Z_679103559_RC2TJX9K8DF4_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-QAT-1668241754768
Qatar's Almoez Ali with Akram Afif. Image Credit: REUTERS

Qatar’s all-time top scorer Almoez Ali and Akram Afif are set to lead the attack for the World Cup hosts after coach Felix Sanchez named his 26-man squad for the tournament.

Sanchez has opted for most of the squad who helped Qatar win the Asian Cup in 2019, where Ali - who has 42 goals in 85 games for his country - was top scorer with nine while his strike partner Afif also netted in the final when they beat Japan 3-1.

160 caps

With more than 160 caps, Hasan Al-Haydos is the most experienced player on the list and the Al Sadd midfielder, who can also play as a winger, will lead Qatar at the finals.

The squad is entirely made up of players who ply their trade in the Qatar Stars League, with half from champions Al Sadd.

Qatar are in Group A alongside Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands. They will play the opening game of the tournament against Ecuador on Nov. 20.

Qatar squad:
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