Photo by QFA
Doha: The Arab national teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be counting on a host of standout players, as these stars aim to make their mark and deliver eye-catching performances during the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
With the start of the global showpiece drawing near, the eight Arab teams have intensified their preparations following the end of the domestic football season. The spotlight is now firmly on the world's biggest football event, with hopes that many of these players will shine on the international stage.
The upcoming edition of the FIFA World Cup will mark a historic milestone for Arab football, with a record eight Arab national teams qualifying for the finals. This unprecedented achievement comes in the first expanded version of the tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in World Cup history.
Fans across the Arab world are placing their hopes on a number of star players for the upcoming competition. The objective is no longer simply to qualify for the finals, but also to make a strong impression against the world's top footballing talent.
In what will be its second World Cup appearance - and its first through the qualification process - the Qatari national team will be relying heavily on Akram Afif, the star player of Al Sadd SC. Afif has become one of the key pillars of Al Annabi thanks to his outstanding performances over the past few seasons.
After contributing to Qatar's back-to-back AFC Asian Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023, Akram Afif will be aiming to leave his mark on the World Cup by scoring his first goal in the tournament, as Qatar competes in Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A two-time winner of the AFC Player of the Year award, Afif enters the tournament backed by an impressive record of achievements with the Qatari national team, in addition to his outstanding statistics and numerous titles with Al Sadd SC.
During his international career with the senior national team, Afif played 126 matches, during which he scored 40 goals in various competitions. He now hopes to leave his mark on the upcoming World Cup by netting his first goal in the tournament, after Qatar managed just one goal in its maiden World Cup appearance in 2022, scored by Mohammed Muntari.
For the Moroccan national team, Achraf Hakimi is preparing for his third World Cup appearance, having previously featured at the 2018 tournament in Russia and the 2022 edition in Qatar. The full-back heads into the competition after two outstanding seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, during which he helped the club secure back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles.
Hakimi has an impressive record with the Moroccan national team, making 95 international appearances and scoring 11 goals across all competitions. He has also enjoyed great success at club level, helping his teams win the UEFA Champions League three times, including once with his former club, Real Madrid.
After playing a key role in Morocco's historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Hakimi will be aiming to help the national team make another deep run in the 2026 tournament, backed by a talented core of players in the starting lineup.
Mohamed Salah heads into the FIFA World Cup with the Egyptian national team boasting an outstanding record of domestic and continental achievements, highlighted by his successful spell with his former club, Liverpool, where he won the UEFA Champions League.
Salah, who officially parted ways with Liverpool at the end of the recently concluded season, is preparing for his second World Cup appearance after making his tournament debut at the 2018 edition in Russia. He will be hoping to play a pivotal role in guiding Egypt to the knockout stages for the first time in the nation's history.
Mohamed Salah has played 113 matches for the Egyptian national team, scoring 65 goals in all competitions, making him one of the most successful Arab footballers at both club and international level.
Salah is Egypt's second-highest all-time scorer with 67 goals, behind current head coach Hossam Hassan, and ranks seventh for most international appearances. Egyptian fans will be counting on him to help the team reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
