Qatar’s national football team delivered an emphatic 5-1 win over North Korea in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying match held at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. The dominant performance put Qatar back in the conversation for qualification, but head coach Luis Garcia and captain Akram Afif insist the job is far from done.
First-Half Firepower
Qatar hit the ground running, storming to a 3-0 lead in just 18 minutes. Akram Afif opened the scoring with a composed finish before Ahmed Alganehi added the second. An unfortunate own goal by North Korea’s Kim Yu-song capped a whirlwind opening for the hosts, sending them into halftime firmly in control.
Sealing the Victory
In the second half, Qatar showed no signs of slowing down. Ahmed Al-Rawi and Ahmed Alaadin added to the tally with clinical goals, making it 5-0 before North Korea grabbed a late consolation. It was one of the team’s most complete performances of the campaign—fast, focused, and ruthless in attack.
Coach Garcia: “We Need More Consistency”
Despite the convincing result, head coach Luis Garcia was quick to remind everyone that the work is not done.
“The players were tactically disciplined and followed instructions well, which earned us this important win,” Garcia said. “But consistency is key. We have to keep improving if we want to stay in the race.”
Afif: “This is Just the Beginning”
Captain Akram Afif echoed his coach’s mindset, urging the team to maintain momentum. “We’re proud of the performance, but we have more to prove. We promise our fans that we’ll fight in every match to reach the World Cup.”
Still a Steep Climb
Even with the win, Qatar remains outside the automatic qualification spots. They trail group leaders Iran by nine points and sit six points behind second-place Uzbekistan. With only the top two teams earning direct qualification, Qatar will need results to go their way in the remaining fixtures—and keep winning.
The playoff path remains a strong possibility, and with this kind of form, Qatar could still force their way to the 2026 World Cup.
Looking Ahead
Qatar’s next test comes in five days against Kyrgyzstan—a match that could further tighten the group standings. Both Garcia and Afif are calling for maximum focus, knowing that every point could be decisive.
For now, Qatar’s five-star display is a statement—but they’re making it clear that the best is yet to come.
