Press reports indicated that former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez is currently in the Qatari capital, Doha, on an unexpected visit that raises many questions due to its timing.
Xavi has special relations with Qatari officials after the years he spent as a player for Al-Sadd Club since 2015 and then as a coach until he left in 2021 and returned to Barcelona.
Xavi’s visit to Doha coincides with continuous criticism of Qatar national team coach Marquez Lopez following the very modest start to the third stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Qatar lost 4-1 to Iran in the last round, and its points balance froze at 4 points, 6 points behind the leaders and runners-up and the two qualifying places for the World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico.
WINWIN linked Xavi’s surprise visit to Qatar to the possibility of dismissing Marquez Lopez, who will be his successor as he is fully aware of the situation of Qatari football in the last decade.
So far, the Qatari Federation has not decided to dismiss Lopez, who succeeded in leading “Al-Annabi” to win the last Asian Cup and has a great history in the Qatar Stars League.
It remains to be noted that Xavi announced after leaving Barcelona that he will not work in the field of football for a full year in order to get a rest that he has not enjoyed for more than 20 years.
