Jordan International Friendly Tournament - Qatar National Team Ready to Face Iraq
Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, the manager of the Qatar national football team, confirmed today the team's readiness to face the Iraqi national team tomorrow, Friday, as part of the quadruple international friendly championship taking place in the Jordanian capital, Amman. The tournament runs from tomorrow until the 17th of this month, with the participation of Jordanian and Iranian teams as well.
During a press conference, Queiroz stated, "This tournament holds great significance for us as it is part of our preparations for the joint qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup, along with preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup finals to be held in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, starting next year in 2024."
He added, "Facing the Iraqi team won't be an easy task for either side, and we are well aware that it will serve as a good test for us against a team known for their ferocity and combative players. We must be mentally and physically prepared to achieve our desired objective."
Regarding the tournament's ambitions, Queiroz said, "Our goal is to win against the Iraqi team tomorrow, in order to compete in the championship match against the winner of the match between the Jordanian and Iranian teams. We aim to maintain a high level of competition and deliver top-quality football on the field, as we seek to overcome all challenges to ensure the success of the Qatari team's journey and achieve the goals we have set previously."
Queiroz denied that the Qatari team's performance had declined recently, highlighting that they performed well in recent competitions, notably in the CONCACAF Gold Cup held in the United States and Canada in June and July. They reached the second round and faced strong teams, including a victory over the tournament champion, the Mexican team. He mentioned that he chose to bring in fresh talent to the squad to elevate the team to a different level.
The Qatari team arrived in the Jordanian capital, Amman, this morning and will participate in the main training session this evening in preparation for their match against the Iraqi team tomorrow night at 6:00 PM at the Amman International Stadium, marking the beginning of the tournament.
The Jordan International Friendly Tournament will follow a semi-final format, where the Qatari team will face the Iraqi team tomorrow, while on the same day, the Jordanian team will compete against their Iranian counterpart. The winners of the initial matches will meet on October 17 to determine the champion, while the two losing teams will face off on the same day to determine the third and fourth places. Each of the four teams will play two matches.
The tournament serves as part of the preparations for all four teams to embark on the joint qualifications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup. Additionally, the teams are gearing up for their participation in the Asian Cup finals scheduled to take place in Qatar from January 12 to February 10 next year in 2024.
