Tehran (IP) - Winter is coming and the Qatar National Football Team, as the World Cup 2022 hosts, are striving to finish in the top two of Group A in order to progress to the last 16 in the first-ever Winter World Cup.

Iran PressIran news: Qatar is hosting the first-ever Winter World Cup, of which the group draw recently took place in Doha. This time of year is classed as mid-season for most big leagues worldwide, especially in Europe. 

The Qatar National Football Team is in Group A, facing the Netherlands, Senegal, and Ecuador. Qatar must finish in the top two in order to progress to the last 16.

In the first match, it will face Ecuador on November 21st. The next opponent will be Senegal on November 25th and Qatar will be against the strongest team in the group, the Netherlands, on November 29th.

The team hopes to use the home advantage to progress to the round of 16 of the World Cup.

Finishing in the top two while facing the Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador will be a difficult task, but the 2019 Asian Cup winners seem to be able to raise their game when tournaments come around.

Manager Felix Sanchez, 46, who has led Qatar to win the Asian Cup in 2019 and stand at third place in the Arab Cup in December 2021, has worked with the squad in various age groups, and he has a lasting relationship with many of them. He hopes this bond will make the squad stronger when the tournament begins.

The Qatar National Football Team is currently ranked 27th in the world. The following players in the Qatar squad are the ones with the highest market value:
 
Akram Afif, a Left Winger from Al-Sadd SC is worth €4.00m. Almoez Ali, the team's Centre-Forward from Al-Duhail SC has a market value of €2.50m.

Inaugural matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be held on Monday, November 21st, 2022, and its final will be on Sunday, December 18th, 2022.

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