Qatar players passionate about qualifying for World Cup: Almoez

Feared striker Almoez Ali said on Wednesday Qatar players are ‘passionate’ about qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Qatar, currently ranked 36 on the FIFA rankings, have never directly qualified for the game’s biggest spectacle held every four years. As hosts, Qatar featured in the last edition of the FIFA World Cup held in late 2022.The next FIFA World Cup will be jointly staged by the US, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026."Everyone knows how important the qualifying matches are for every side. This will be a tough road. We gathered 10 days ago. All the players are passionate about going through the qualifiers,” Almoez said during a press conference on Wednesday.Qatar, who are playing the UAE in a Group A clash at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium today, will be looking towards Almoez and fellow forward Akram Afif to lead the team’s attack."I think, for us players, we all have one goal and that is to qualify for the World Cup. This is an important year for us. We have achieved a lot too,” Almoez added.Remaining unbeaten in seven matches, Qatar defended their Asian Cup title in Jan-Feb this year. Five years earlier, Qatar beat Japan in the final of the 2019 Asian Cup for their maiden continental success."But there is something missing for this generation of players,” Almoez said in reference to Qatar seeking a direct entry to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. "We have to achieve positive results in the qualifiers. We have to do it for Qatar,” Almoez said."We are playing the UAE and we are fully ready for them,” the 28-year-old Al Duhail skipper said on Wednesday."Our fans are the main motivation for the players. During the Asian Cup, we had the fans backing us and that feeling of fans supporting us was very good for the entire squad,” Almoez recalled."Of course our team is fully ready and as a player I am fully confident. We will give our 110 percent. The fan support on our soil will give us great hope and backing,” he added.UAE centre-back Khalifa al-Hammadi said his side was aiming to pick up three points from their clash at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium today."I would like to thank the Qatar Football Association for their hospitality. We are ready for this match. The players know the importance of this game since Qatar is a good team. We hope to perform well and take the three points,” al-Hammadi said at a press conference held at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Wednesday."It’s a big dream for any player to qualify for the World Cup. The solidarity of our players and the support of the fans are also key ingredients. We hope to take game by game,” he added."Let me assure you, we are ready for Qatar, They are very strong in the forward lines. We know the importance of these games. We hope to be ready physically and mentally."Every game has a different context. We will try our best to get three points. We don’t have to think about the past results and focus on our game and only on this match,” the 25-year-old Al Jazira player explained.