Qatar dey round off dia 2026 World Cup preparations with a friendly against El Salvador for neutral BMO Stadium for Los Angeles on Saturday. Dis go be only third meeting between di two nations, with Maroon One don win both previous ones, including narrow 1-0 win for non-competitive fixture for July 4, 2021 and 3-2 victory for Gold Cup quarter-finals three weeks later.
Qatar earn dia maiden World Cup appearance as hosts of 2022 tournament but don show dem fit reach di global stage through conventional qualification pathway. Di Maroon One secure dia place for dis year finals for di fourth round of AFC preliminaries, playing out goalless draw with Oman before edging United Arab Emirates 2-1 to top Group A three-team section.
However, dat landmark achievement follow disappointing spell of form, with di side finishing bottom of dia group for 2025 FIFA Arab Cup last December despite home advantage, and dem now without win for five matches, losing four for dat stretch. Qatar arrive for dis encounter off back of 1-0 defeat to Ireland last Thursday, with Nathan Collins netting inside five minutes to settle contest, extending run wey Maroon One don concede first-half goals for three of dia last five outings.
While Lopetegui go dey eager to resolve im side sluggish starts, there also concern for di final third, with di team failing to score for four of dia last seven matches and registering more dan one goal for game only once during dat period. Dose numbers offer little encouragement heading into World Cup, where Qatar find demselves as di lowest-placed side for Group B aside from Bosnia and Herzegovina, sitting 55th for FIFA World Rankings for bracket wey also include Switzerland and co-hosts Canada.
Ranked 100th for di world, El Salvador fall short for dia bid to reach 2026 World Cup – extending dia long absence from tournament since dia last appearance for 1982 – after dem eliminate for di third round of CONCACAF qualifying. La Selecta finish bottom of Group A for dat stage, with win over Guatemala being dia only victory from six matches, although Hernan Gomez side do top dia bracket for March 2026 CONCACAF Series after defeating Martinique.
Dat result follow by 1-0 defeat to South Korea for last Thursday friendly at neutral America First Field, leaving El Salvador with just one win for dia last eight matches (D1, L6) and reflecting dia frailties for di final third. La Selecta don fail to score for eight of dia last 12 games, and notably, each of dia most recent five defeats don come without finding net, suggesting dia chances on Saturday go depend heavily on significant improvement for attacking output.
Qatar striker Almoez Ali was sent off for di 78th minute of last Thursday defeat to Ireland despite only being introduced after di break, for match wey see both sides reduce to 10 men. However, di forward suppose dey available for selection here, as red cards receive for friendly matches no dey typically carry over, and Ali go get chance to add to im all-time record goals tally for Maroon One. Karim Boudiaf, Mohammad Al Mannai, Assim Omer Madibo and Lucas Mendes dey also pushing for starting roles after making substitute appearances for di defeat to Ireland, while Akram Afif fit retain im place on flank.
El Salvador emerge from dia friendly against South Korea without any fresh injury concerns, though head coach Gomez fit make several changes to im lineup, with Mayer Gil and Kevin Reyes among those hoping to earn recalls after featuring from bench. Danis Cerros make im senior debut as second-half substitute for dat encounter, while Diego Ortez, Alejandro Cano and third-choice goalkeeper Geonathan Barrera fit all dey in line for dia first appearances. Nathan Ordaz and Styven Vasquez lead di line against South Korea, but Cristian Gil be another option for attack and fit be handed starting berth on Saturday, while captain Mario Gonzalez dey expected to keep im place between sticks.
Qatar go aim to enter into World Cup on positive note and fit take confidence from don win both previous meetings between di two nations, while dem also hold significant advantage for FIFA World Rankings. However, goals fit dey at premium for contest featuring two sides wey don struggle for attacking fluency for recent months, and single strike fit prove enough to secure victory for Lopetegui men.
