Lopetegui stresses the positives after Qatar knocked out of World Cup

Qatar's journey in the World Cup has concluded following a 3-1 defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina, confirming their elimination from the group stage. Despite the disappointment of the loss, coach Julen Lopetegui urged his players to take pride in their performance, highlighting that they secured their first-ever point at the finals.

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Their tournament was "very positive, despite today (being) a big disappointment", Lopetegui told reporters after a 3-1 loss which confirmed their elimination in the group stage.

This tournament marked Qatar's second appearance at the World Cup. Four years prior, as hosts, they exited the competition having lost all three of their matches. This time, however, they managed to secure a surprise 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their opening game. Although they suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to co-hosts Canada, the draw meant they still had a chance to advance prior to their final match against Bosnia.

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Having reached the tournament through qualifying for the first time, Qatar snatched a late equaliser in a surprise 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their opening game.

Lopetegui emphasized that qualifying for the tournament itself was a significant achievement for Qatar. He believes the team has demonstrated that they belong on the world stage and has laid a foundation for a new generation of players to develop. "This last match... allowed us to take one step ahead in Qatar football, Qatar history," he stated, reflecting on the team's progress.

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This last match ... allowed us to take one step ahead in Qatar football, Qatar history.

Looking ahead, Lopetegui acknowledged that this might be the final World Cup for some of the current squad members. He stressed the importance for the younger players to learn from this experience and use it as a stepping stone for future opportunities. "The young players, they have to learn and take this example for the future, to be able to have other possibilities in history – I don't know when it's going to happen," he added, underscoring the long-term development goals for Qatari football.

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I think that they showed that at least we were able to compete in these kinds of matches.