Julen Lopetegui, the 58-year-old Spanish football coach, has been officially appointed as Qatar’s new national team coach. The announcement was made on Thursday, coinciding with the dismissal of the previous coach, Luis Garcia.
Lopetegui has signed a contract with the Qatari federation that will keep him in charge until 2027. His first match at the helm will be on June 5th against Iran, in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
This appointment marks Lopetegui’s second experience as a senior international coach, having previously managed the Spanish national team from 2016 to 2018.
Lopetegui’s coaching career includes a stint at FC Porto (2014/15), and he began this season as the manager of West Ham in the Premier League.
Qatar is currently fourth in Group A of the 2026 World Cup qualifying group, with 10 points from eight matches. The team is aiming to qualify for the World Cup again, following their appearance as hosts in the 2022 tournament.
