Qatar Vs El Salvador: Lopetegui Sees Final Test Before 2026
qatar vs el salvador landed at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles as Qatar’s final match before the 2026 World Cup, giving Julen Lopetegui one last look at his group before the tournament opens on June 11. Qatar entered the friendly having played only once in 2026, a 1-0 loss to Ireland.
BMO Stadium In Los Angeles
The match was scheduled to get underway at 4:00 PM ET, or 1:00 PM PT, with Qatar using the trip as a final tune-up. El Salvador arrived after a difficult Concacaf campaign that ended with one victory and five defeats in its group.
That split in circumstance shaped the stakes. Qatar were already looking ahead to Group B, where they will meet Panama, Canada and Switzerland, while El Salvador used the fixture to begin sorting out its next cycle after missing qualification.
Julen Lopetegui’s Qatar XI
Lopetegui started Mahmud Abunada in goal behind Ayoub Al Oui, Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi and Homam Ahmed. Jassem Gaber, Ahmed Fathy and Issa Laye lined up in midfield, with Edmilson Junior, Yusuf Abdurisag and Akram Afif leading the attack.
El Salvador countered with Mario Gonzalez in goal and a back line of Diego Flores, Jorge Cruz, Julian Sibrian and Rudy Clavel. Jefferson Valladares, Mauricio Cerritos, Christian Martinez, Marcelo Diaz, Nathan Ordez and Styven Vasquez filled out the starting XI.
Group B And June 11
Qatar’s only other match in 2026 ended in a 1-0 loss to Ireland, so this friendly offered a sharper read on where the team stands before opening World Cup play. The starter list mattered because Lopetegui could test combinations against a side playing for evaluation rather than qualification.
For Qatar, the immediate focus shifts to turning this last rehearsal into something usable in Group B. For El Salvador, the night in Los Angeles was less about the result than about the first steps of a reset after a campaign that produced one win and five defeats.
