Qatar players during a training session at the Dolon Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar coach Luis Garcia is confident that his team will produce a winning performance against Kyrgyzstan to strengthen their campaign in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The reigning Asian champions are back in action following a commanding 5-1 victory over North Korea in Doha on Thursday, a win that has reignited their hopes of securing a top-two finish in Group A, which is a must for automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Qatar defeated Kyrgyzstan 3-1 in the first leg in Doha, but Garcia is aware that the opponents will be tougher on their home turf of Dolon Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.
“We have played against Kyrgyzstan before, and they will be tough on their home ground in front of their fans,” Garcia said at a pre-match press conference yesterday.
Qatar coach Luis Garcia
Qatar are currently placed fourth in the group with 10 points, level with third-placed United Arab Emirates, while Iran and Uzbekistan sit at the top with 19 and 16 points, respectively.
With only three matches remaining in the round, Garcia emphasised that his team must continue the winning momentum to keep their chances of automatic qualification alive.
“It’s another important match for us. We are ready, and all the players are determined to perform at the required level. The three points from this match will be crucial in our campaign in the World Cup Qualifiers. I am confident the players will give a strong performance,” the Qatar coach said.
Captain Akram Afif, who scored a goal and provided three assists in the win over North Korea, will remain key for Qatar.
Qatar will miss forward Mohammed Muntari and defender Abdelkarim Hassan after the duo was ruled out due to injuries.
Garcia was hopeful their absences will not affect the team.
“We have good replacements for the players missing this match. I have full confidence that these players will put in maximum effort in this important match,” he said.
Qatar defender Lucas Mendes said, “We are aiming for a win and to take three points from here, which will boost our chances of reaching the World Cup finals.”
“Kyrgyzstan will pose a difficult challenge for us, and we are aware of that. We have the ability to perform in such important games. Our goal is to win and please our fans.”
Kyrgyzstan are fifth in the group with three points, leading bottom side North Korea by one. They will look to fancy their chances of finishing among the top four sides, as third and fourth-placed teams from the group will advance to the next qualifying round.
"The goal will be to deliver a distinguished performance and achieve victory," said Kyrgyzstan coach Maxim Lisitsyn.
"It is well known in football that each team seeks to impose its style of play by realistically reading the opponent, and the field will reveal many facts in the upcoming clash.”
The match will kick off at 4:45 pm (Doha time). Qatar’s final two group matches against Iran and Uzbekistan are scheduled for June 5 and June 10, respectively.
Meanwhile, Iran only need a point to seal their place in the World Cup as they host Uzbekistan in a top-of-the-table clash at Azadi Stadium in Tehran.
The UAE will take on North Korea in another Group A clash at Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.
