Kuala Lumpur, June 2 /QNA/ As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has honored Akram Afif, presented as one of the main standard bearers of Asian football on the world stage and one of the major assets of the Qatari selection for the North American meeting.
In a report published Tuesday, the continental body underlines the weight of the Al Sadd SC player within the Qatari system. At 29 years old, the offensive winger has established himself over the years as the technical leader of Al Annabi and one of the most influential players on the continent.
The AFC believes that his experience at the very high level and his ability to swing matches will be valuable assets for Qatar, which will play its second World Cup final phase after its first appearance in 2022.
Placed in group B, the Qatari selection will face Canada, co-organizer of the event, as well as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Switzerland.
The report also looks at the decisive role played by Afif in the greatest successes of Qatari football. Spearhead of the conquest of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup then the continental title won at home in 2023, he particularly distinguished himself during this last edition by winning the trophies for best player and top scorer with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final against Jordan.
Double winner of the Asian Player of the Year title, in 2019 and 2023, Afif also enriched his record with Al Sadd, where he contributed to six league titles, three Emir Cups and two Qatar Cups.
His statistics testify to his influence: 41 goals in 133 caps with Qatar and 168 goals in 306 appearances for Al Sadd.
The AFC finally considers that he will be one of the centerpieces of Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui’s system. Through his quality of percussion, his vision of the game and his ability to create gaps in the last meters, Afif remains one of the main offensive weapons on which Qatar intends to rely to succeed in its 2026 World Cup.
