Doha: Qatar’s national team, under head coach Luis Garcia, faces a critical test against DPR Korea in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 2026 Group A clash on Thursday. Currently fourth in the group with seven points from six matches, Qatar’s inconsistent form has left their FIFA World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. Garcia, who replaced AFC Asian Cup™-winning coach Marquez Lopez in December, must now rally his squad despite their fate relying on other results. While automatic qualification for the top two spots appears unlikely—with Iran leading at 16 points and Uzbekistan trailing at 13—Qatar still eyes a third or fourth-place finish to advance to the playoffs, where two additional World Cup berths remain up for grabs. Tomorrow’s match will not be straightforward,” Garcia warned. “North Korea are a fierce and underestimated opponent. They can create serious problems if we’re not fully prepared. We must deliver our absolute best in this decisive encounter.”   DPR Korea,Garcia emphasized leveraging Qatar’s home support: “Our stadium and fans are some of our strengths. The Qatari crowd’s passion will be our driving force. Their unwavering energy can push us toward achieving our mission.”   For Korea, who are sitting on just two points, with virtually no chance of a top-two finish. However, they remain determined to fight for a playoff spot, having previously held Qatar to a 2-2 draw in September. The match will test whether Garcia’s revamped tactics can reignite Qatar’s campaign.