The Qatar national football team played its first official match on March 27, 1970, against Bahrain, losing 1-2, with Mubarak Faraj scoring Qatar’s only goal. Qatar was among the four founding nations to participate in the biennial Gulf Cup tournament.

Qatar made its first appearance in FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds, marking a significant milestone in the team’s international journey.

The team debuted in the AFC Asian Cup held in Kuwait, gaining valuable experience competing at the continental level.

During the 1990s, Qatar reached new heights but narrowly missed qualifying for the FIFA World Cup final tournaments in 1990 and 1998. In August 1993, the team achieved its highest FIFA ranking to date, reaching 53rd place.

This year marked a turning point as Qatar won its first Gulf Cup title, relying on a talented generation of young players who impressed fans and critics alike, especially after their notable performance at the Barcelona Summer Olympics.

The Gulf Cup victory on home soil in Doha heralded the emergence of a new generation of Qatari players, signaling a fresh era of success following a transitional period.

2014 was one of Qatar’s most successful football years, with the under-19 team winning the AFC U-19 Championship, while the senior team captured two titles: the West Asian Football Federation Championship and their third Gulf Cup, defeating Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Riyadh.

The national team won its first-ever Asian title by being crowned champions of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the UAE, after defeating Japan 3-1 in the final match. Almoez Ali shined by winning the tournament’s top scorer award with 9 goals, breaking the record, and also earned the Best Player award. Goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb received the Best Goalkeeper award. Additionally, Akram Afif excelled by scoring and assisting many goals throughout the tournament, playing a key role in the team’s historic success.
In the same year, the team participated in the Copa América in Brazil, delivering an impressive performance and leaving a positive impression of Qatari football on the international stage.

Due to postponements of the joint World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers, Qatar withdrew from the 2020 Copa América but participated notably in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The team finished the joint qualifiers unbeaten, topping their group with 22 points.

Qatar became the first Arab team to compete in UEFA World Cup qualifiers, grouped with Portugal, Serbia, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Azerbaijan. Although Qatar’s matches were not counted officially due to host nation status, the team won two matches, drew three, and lost five.

Qatar made its World Cup debut as host nation but was eliminated in the group stage after losses to Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands.

In their second appearance, Qatar reached the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, held in the United States.

2024 (AFC Asian Cup and FIFA Ranking)
Al-Annabi reaffirmed its continental dominance by winning the 2023 AFC Asian Cup hosted by Qatar, defeating Jordan 3-1 in the final to secure their second consecutive continental title. The team also reached 37th place in the FIFA ranking, the highest in its history, setting a record with 14 consecutive wins and remaining unbeaten in the last two Asian Cup editions.

2024 (Tournament Journey and Awards)
The team started the tournament with wins over Lebanon, Tajikistan, and China in the group stage, then defeated Palestine in the Round of 16, overcame Uzbekistan on penalties in the quarterfinals, beat Iran in the semifinals, and finally triumphed over Jordan in the final. The team also won the Fair Play Award, while Mutaz Barshim received the Best Goalkeeper award, Akram Afif was named Best Player and Top Scorer, and four players were included in the tournament’s Best XI.