Luis Garcia Appointed as New Head Coach of Qatar National Football Team
Following the dismissal of Marques Lopez due to poor World Cup qualifying results, the Qatar Football Association has promoted assistant coach Luis Garcia to lead the national team.
The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has announced the promotion of Luis Garcia to the position of head coach for the Qatar national football team. This decision follows the dismissal of Marques Lopez after a series of unsatisfactory performances in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Garcia, a former Spanish international and ex-manager of Espanyol, joined the Qatari coaching staff as Lopez's assistant earlier this year. His appointment aims to revitalize the team's prospects as they prepare for the upcoming Arabian Gulf Cup later this month.
Under Lopez's leadership, Qatar secured their second consecutive AFC Asian Cup title in February. However, the team's recent form in World Cup qualifiers has been disappointing, including a 5-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates last month. Currently, Qatar sits fourth in their group, six points behind second-placed Uzbekistan, with only seven points from six matches.
The QFA expressed gratitude to Lopez for his dedication and achievements during his tenure and extended best wishes for his future endeavors. Garcia's immediate challenge will be to steer the team towards improved performances in both regional and international competitions.