Qatar has officially announced the appointment of Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui as the new manager of the national team, with a contract running through 2027.
After failing to reach an agreement with Frenchman Christophe Galtier, the Gulf state turned to another high-profile name. The former Real Madrid and Spain coach has now taken the reins of the Al-Annabi, signing a two-year deal with the Qatar Football Association.
“The Qatar Football Association has officially announced the appointment of Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui as the new head coach of the Qatar national team, succeeding his compatriot Luis Garcia,” the QFA said in a statement.
Free of any club commitments, Lopetegui’s primary objective will be to lead Qatar to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.