2026 World Cup: Al-Haydos expresses his pride in wearing the colors of Qatar for a second consecutive participation

Doha, June 3 /QNA/ The captain of the Qatari selection, Hassan Al-Haydos, expressed his pride in representing his country once again on the world stage at the 2026 World Cup, thus signing a second consecutive participation in the most prestigious meeting in international football.

In a video interview broadcast by the Qatar Football Federation, the Al Sadd striker stressed that his presence at the World Cup organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico constituted a source of particular pride, recalling that the national jersey has always represented for him a a privilege as well as a responsibility.

“Defending the colors of Qatar has always been a huge honor. I have constantly sought to live up to the expectations placed on me and the trust of our supporters,” he said.

Reflecting on his decision to end his international career before returning to the ranks of Al Annabi, Al-Haydos acknowledged having gone through a period of delicate reflection, while ensuring that the interests of the selection had always guided his choices.

The Qatari player also highlighted the experience accumulated over the course of international competitions, believing that his experience during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will allow him to approach the 2026 edition with greater maturity and a better understanding of the requirements specific to such a competition.

He also insisted on the importance of passing on this experience to young players expected to discover the world stage for the first time, stressing that ambition, determination and the permanent quest for progress remain essential elements to achieve the objectives of the selection.

Referring to the preparations for the World Cup, Al-Haydos indicated that the work had started as soon as the qualification was acquired, with the desire to meet all the necessary conditions to arrive at the tournament in the best possible condition.

The Qatari captain nevertheless expects a particularly tough group stage against Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

“We are aware of the quality of our opponents, but we fully believe in our abilities. Our priority is now to successfully enter the competition in order to launch our campaign in the best possible way,” he concluded.