The 58-year-old was sacked as West Ham United head coach in January after just six months in charge.

Lopetegui’s debut as Qatar head coach will see him guide the national squad in the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

His first assignment will be a home match against Iran on June 5, 2025, at Al Sadd Club’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, followed by an away fixture against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on June 10, 2025.