Julen Lopetegui came within inches of coaching Spain at the 2018 World Cup—until Luis Rubiales fired him just days before kickoff for agreeing to take over Real Madrid. That Spain squad was stacked, and the abrupt dismissal hit him hard. Eight years later, fate hands him another shot at the tournament. But this time, he’s leading one of the weakest teams in the field: Qatar.

“How does it feel heading into the World Cup?”

We’re incredibly excited. This is the first time Qatar has ever reached a World Cup through qualification, and that alone is historic. We’re motivated and determined to be as competitive as possible once we’re there.

“Is this World Cup especially meaningful after what happened in 2018?”

I don’t carry any bitterness. Soccer has given me far more than it has taken away. What happened back then was ugly, yes, but this sport always pushes you to look forward. When Qatar approached me, many people didn’t understand the move, but for me it was a powerful challenge—one that has been fascinating from day one. My enthusiasm is intact.

“In 2018 you had a powerhouse Spain team. Now you’re leading a major underdog”

They’re completely different moments. Back then, we arrived in Russia in peak form with a beautiful mix of veterans and emerging talent. Circumstances prevented us from competing. Coaching Qatar is a far tougher challenge—qualifying alone is incredibly difficult. Just ask Italy. The first time they missed a World Cup was after facing us in the 2018 qualifying group.

“What kind of World Cup do you expect?”

I’m not sure we’ll see the same style of play we see in Europe. This tournament will demand huge adaptability. Conditions may be unpredictable. I expect a World Cup rich in tactical ideas, where the teams that adjust best will gain an edge.

“Is Spain a favorite?”

Labels don’t help. Those come from the outside—based on history, talent, and qualifying performance. Spain will absolutely be among the contenders, no doubt. But once the knockout rounds begin, everything becomes win-or-go-home. Only one team survives that gauntlet.

“How competitive can Qatar realistically be?”

Time will tell. The first step is accepting who we are. When teams see Qatar drawn as their opponent, they’re probably pleased. But accepting our reality doesn’t mean lowering our heads. It means working even harder.

“Do you hope Qatar becomes one of the surprises of the tournament?”

Our goal is to be fully convinced of our identity and push ourselves to the limit. We don’t want fear or stage fright to stop us from competing.

“Is your group—Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia—the easiest?”

Not at all. Switzerland has been one of Europe’s most consistent teams for nearly a decade. Canada is arguably the best team in North America right now—they’ve beaten the U.S. and Mexico convincingly. And Bosnia knocked out Wales in Wales and eliminated Italy. All three are heavy favorites against us.

“Were you surprised Italy missed out?”

We didn’t expect one team or the other. But the gap between their leagues and Qatar’s, plus our long stretches without competitive matches, makes our challenge even harder—and even more motivating.

“Why did you choose Qatar?”

Because we’re driven by difficult, unconventional challenges. When I analyzed the situation, the team still had to earn a playoff spot in October, and that alone was a massive task. We knew very little about Qatari soccer and had to learn fast. We beat Iran 1–0, then won the playoff against Oman and the UAE. We earned our place. Asia only gained one extra spot even with the expansion to 48 teams.

“Qatar has a tiny population and limited sports culture. How does that affect you?”

It’s a natural limitation. There are only about 300,000 Qatari citizens, and many live extremely comfortable lives, which doesn’t always foster competitive drive from a young age. On top of that, many eligible players barely get minutes in the domestic league. There are barriers everywhere—but we also have enthusiasm and excellent support. Our squad spans generations: I’ve coached players from 35 to 43 years old. But as José Mota would say, we’re not going just to show up. We’re going with a purpose.

“Has the war affected your preparation?”

Absolutely. For three weeks, no one trained. First came Ramadan, then three weeks where bombings and conflict made training impossible. We also lost two crucial friendlies—against Argentina and Serbia—that would’ve been tough but valuable learning experiences. Those cancellations, plus the Finalissima being called off, disrupted our rhythm.

“How does Ramadan affect your players?”

It changes their physical cycle significantly. Sleep patterns shift, nutrition changes, and the body needs time to adapt.

“Do you see a future for Qatar’s national team?”

There’s promising talent in the Project Talent pipeline. In two or three years, a new generation will emerge, especially with naturalized players who’ve lived in Qatar for years.

“Will we ever see a Qatari player in a major European league?”

Salaries aren’t the main issue. The challenges are structural. But with the current development strategy, I believe that in three to five years, a player from the Talent Project could break through and compete in Europe.

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