The Qatar Football Association (QFA) announced on Thursday that Julen Lopetegui will replace Luis Garcia as head coach of the national team with immediate effect. The two parties have signed a two-year contract until June 30, 2027.

Julen Lopetegui, 58, is from Spain and has coached Rayo Vallecano, Porto, the Spanish national team, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves, West Ham United and other teams. He has coached a total of 306 games at the club level, with a record of 168 wins, 64 draws and 74 losses, and led Sevilla to win the 2019/20 Europa League.

As for the national team, Lopetegui led the Spanish team in 10 World Cup qualifiers and 10 friendly matches from 2016 to 2018, achieving an unbeaten record of 14 wins and 6 draws.

Now, Lopetegui will lead Qatar in the remaining 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers. Qatar currently ranks fourth in Group A in Asia with 3 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses and 10 points. With only two rounds left in the group stage, it is impossible to directly qualify for the World Cup. They will face Iran and Uzbekistan on June 5 and 10 respectively, striving to enter the play-off stage.