Luis Garcia, the newly appointed head coach of the Qatar national football team, has set his sights on achieving a historic milestone: guiding the Maroons to their first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification through the AFC pathway.
The 44-year-old Spaniard, who took the reins in December 2024, faces a crucial qualifying window, beginning with a home clash against Korea DPR on March 20th, followed by an away fixture against Kyrgyz Republic on March 25th.
Garcia’s ascension to the head coach position follows a year as assistant to Tintin Marquez, whose departure after the Gulf Cup prompted the Qatar Football Association to place their trust in Garcia.
In an exclusive interview with FIFA, Garcia expressed a mix of surprise and determination, acknowledging the unusual circumstances of his appointment while emphasizing his strong relationship with Marquez.
“To be quite honest, it was all a bit strange,” Garcia admitted. “My relationship with Tintin is excellent and his departure affected me greatly. I came here with him and wanted to leave with him, but then the opportunity for me to take over presented itself. Tintin himself encouraged me to accept the job, and besides, I knew the country and the players so it made sense.”
Qatar’s immediate focus is on navigating the challenging AFC qualifying group. Garcia stressed the competitive nature of the upcoming matches, highlighting the diminishing gap between teams in Asian football.
“We approach each and every game with enthusiasm and the belief that we can win,” Garcia stated. “The gap between each team is getting smaller and smaller, and the small details are what tend to set the sides apart.”
He emphasized the importance of utilizing home advantage against Korea DPR and securing a positive result in Kyrgyzstan to bolster their chances of direct qualification.
“We’ll try to use that advantage to win the game and secure either third or fourth place in order to qualify for the next round,” he said.
A key figure in Qatar’s squad is captain Akram Afif, whom Garcia lauded as a “magnificent footballer” and a player of exceptional talent. “He is for us what Messi is for Argentina, a unique player and someone totally different,” Garcia remarked. “He was absolutely amazing at the Asian Cup and was named Asia’s best player. That doesn’t happen by coincidence; it’s down to pure talent.”
For Garcia, who never graced the World Cup stage as a player, qualifying as a coach would be a career-defining achievement.
“Nothing comes close to having the chance to go to a World Cup,” he expressed. “It’d be the ultimate privilege. Every coach relishes these big moments and tournaments. There’s no bigger competition than a World Cup and being able to represent an entire nation.”
He also touched upon the growing presence of Spanish coaches in global football, and his own development as a national team coach, after the success of the Asian Cup.
“Being able to coach the Asian champions is a privilege for me and a huge step forward in my career. But also in my development as a coach, because being in charge of a national team is very different to coaching a club team.”
Looking ahead to the FIFA World Cup 2026, to be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Garcia expressed his desire to potentially face his former Espanyol coach, Mauricio Pochettino, who now leads the US national team.
He also reflected on the coaching philosophy of the late Luis Aragones, emphasizing the importance of unwavering belief and a clear vision. “If there’s one thing I learnt from that moment about being a coach, it’s that Luis was unequivocal in his approach and knew exactly what he wanted to do,” Garcia recalled.
