Coach Julen Lopetegui was left with plenty to reflect on after Qatar were held to a goalless draw by El Salvador in their final friendly before facing Switzerland in their World Cup opener on Saturday, June 13 in San Francisco.
Qatar, ranked 57th in the world, controlled long spells of possession against 101st-ranked El Salvador but once again struggled to convert dominance into clear-cut chances, particularly in the final third. El Salvador grew into the game after the break and carried a greater attacking threat without finding a breakthrough.
The draw extends a difficult run of form under Lopetegui, with Qatar managing just one win, three draws, and four defeats across eight official international matches since his appointment in May, 2025.
The result follows Qatar’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Ireland in Dublin last month, further highlighting inconsistency in the final phase of preparation.
Lopetegui started with the same XI that faced Ireland, with Mahmoud Abunada in goal in a 4-3-3 formation. Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Ayoub Alawi and Homamd AlaAmin formed the defence, while Jassim Gaber, Ahmed Fathy and Issa Laye operated in midfield. The attack was led by Akram Afif in a central role, with Edmilson Junior and Youssef Abdulrazzaq deployed on either flank.
Lopetegui also used the opportunity to rotate his squad and assess depth, handing minutes to a total of 19 players, although none were able to make any impact.
Based on recent performances, Qatar will need a significant step up in North America if they are to banish the memories of their World Cup debut at home four years ago, when they became the first host nation to lose all three group matches.
After 2022 debacle, Qatar have rebuilt momentum, retaining the Asian Cup in 2023 and qualifying for the World Cup on merit for the first time. But on current form, Lopetegui faces a major task in shaping an ageing side capable of reaching the knockout stage.
Speaking after the match, head coach Lopetegui reflected on the conditions, the performance, and the final stages of preparation.
“It was a tough game. The conditions were very humid, but that is exactly what we will face in a week’s time when the World Cup begins. It was important for us to experience that environment and get used to it as quickly as possible,” the Spaniard said.
“We played against a team that faced Republic of Korea four days ago and they only lost 1-0. They competed very well and are much more accustomed to these conditions. Even so, I think we put in a very good effort. There were plenty of positives to take from the match. We have improved, and that is one of the reasons we are here. These final few days are about reaching our best physical and tactical level and being mentally ready for our first major challenge.”
Asked about his consistent use of a similar line-up across the two friendlies, Lopetegui was cautious about drawing conclusions ahead of the match against Switzerland.
“No, not necessarily. We can still make changes. We made a few adjustments at half time as well. We have to analyse many details over the coming week before making the best decisions. Our first opponents will be one of the strongest teams at the World Cup. I know what I am saying about Switzerland national football team. They are a very, very good team and we have to be ready to compete against them and perform at our best. That is why we are working so hard,” the former Spain and Real Madrid coach said.
“Today’s match will give us plenty to analyse so we can improve the small details that still need attention. Above all, it was important to adapt to the environment, the humidity and the kick off time. We will play at 12 noon, so we have to be fully prepared.”
Looking ahead to the opening game, Lopetegui underlined the scale of the challenge. “My concern is everything. We are going to face a very, very good team, physically, technically and tactically. Switzerland has many players who compete in the Champions League, so we have to be ready. For us, it is a huge challenge. We must understand the difficulties we will face and know exactly what we need to do to compete with them. That is our objective.”
After their opener against Switzerland, Qatar travel to Vancouver to face co-hosts Canada on June 18 and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24.
