When the Qatari national team’s flight touched down in Los Angeles at 2:12 PM on May 30, jubilant cheers filled the Boeing 777-300ER. This moment marks a historic achievement for the 26 players, as it is their first qualification for a World Cup. For coach Julen Lopetegui, it represents a third opportunity, with his sights now set on participating on the pitch.
In a reflective moment within the dining area of the team hotel in Montecito, Santa Barbara, Lopetegui expressed, “Football didn’t owe me anything,” Despite this sentiment, he recognizes that he has earned this chance. The call from Doha a year prior was enticing, particularly because, as he emphasizes, “I was back-up goalkeeper to Zubi [Andoni Zubizarreta], but I suffered a back injury a couple of weeks before,”
Lopetegui’s initiation into World Cup competition occurred 32 years ago on U.S. soil. His last appearance was in Russia in 2018, where he remained on the sidelines without any playing time. Serving as the third-choice goalkeeper, he never anticipated stepping onto the field, and he admits he may not have been fit enough even if called upon.
Eight years prior, he entered the tournament as the head coach of Spain, having gone unbeaten for over two years. However, his journey was abruptly cut short when he was dismissed just a day before the tournament began after accepting a position with Real Madrid.
Now, as he returns to the World Cup stage, Lopetegui hopes for a different outcome. Securing a spot on the field is only the beginning; winning matches presents a far greater challenge. Qatar is often regarded as the weakest team in the tournament, with their preparations hampered by violence and limited competitive experience. Nevertheless, Lopetegui is determined to leave his mark.
The match that secured Spain’s qualification in 1994 took place against Denmark the previous November. “I had two herniated discs. I rang Javi and said: ‘Javi, sorry, I’m not in a fit state to be called up because if I have to play I don’t think I can’. And he says, very Clemente: ‘Bah, don’t be daft. Like an old man’s going to get flu on a Monday.’ I shouldn’t worry; I wasn’t going to be needed. I said: ‘Yes, but if he does get flu I can’t come on.’ ‘Right, I’ll call that Santi kid from Celta’.” he remembers, imitating coach Javier Clemente as he recounts the event.
“what had to happen, happened. Clemente called up Santi Cañizares and, although the old man didn’t get flu, Zubi did get sent off, 10 minutes in, the only red in his [international] career. Santi comes on, plays very well, wins the right to be No 2, later No 1. “Although I wasn’t playing well at Logroñés, struggling with the injury, Javi called me up as third-choice as a reward for that gesture. I couldn’t enjoy it much because I was living with a lot of pain, but I did what I could, knowing I wasn’t going to play and supporting everyone, contributing my bit.”
“Nuno [Espírito Santo], [Dino] Zoff, [Walter] Zenga, [Ricardo] La Volpe …” Lopetegui laughs, “But if you’re a sub goalkeeper you watch most games from next to the manager.”
“there was no point asking Johan how to defend”
Lopetegui is one of three coaches at this World Cup, alongside Hong Myung-bo and Ronald Koeman, who participated as players in USA 94. Uniquely, he is the only coach with a goalkeeper’s background. He finds it difficult to name any goalkeeping coaches.
“There’s a photo from the Super Cup final, one of the few games I played, and nine of that starting XI became coaches.”
He chuckles and adds, “It was the saddest day of my life,”
And not just any manager: after the 1994 World Cup, Lopetegui joined Barcelona, where he again played a backup role. He describes sitting on the bench next to Johan Cruyff as a rare experience, joking, “No. There’s no time for that. But you think about it. I’ve lived many wonderful experiences, but, yes, that one too. “I haven’t stopped working since, you don’t look back, and that experience gives you a thicker skin. You learn from them, too. But if you asked me: ‘Would you do the same again?’ One hundred per cent. Why? Because we always took what we thought were the right decisions from a position of deep respect for our responsibilities.”
Cruyff inspired a sense of curiosity in his players, Lopetegui recalls. “We came for two main reasons: to take on a huge challenge no one had done [qualifying for the World Cup, Qatar were in automatically as hosts in 2022] and to test ourselves in a very different context,”
Other influences include a Spanish football culture and coaching philosophy that emphasizes teamwork, along with the Basque heritage that helped him, Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso, and Andoni Iraola emerge from a small region. Being the son of a champion stone-lifter, his family’s athletic legacy has also played a significant role.
All these experiences led Lopetegui into coaching, culminating in the remarkable opportunity to lead Spain into a World Cup. However, a shocking twist occurred at dawn, less than a day before the tournament, when the then-disgraced Spanish federation president, Luis Rubiales, dismissed him. Lopetegui returned to Madrid alone, leaving behind the team he had cultivated, with his dreams shattered. Following his departure, Spain struggled. “And, of course, there was that feeling, the hope of being at a World Cup, which we could have had with another national team. “We could have gone out straight away against Iran, the Brazil of [the region], but we won 1-0, which gave us time for Emirates [UAE] and Oman. We had to see what we could do, not what we wanted to do. “You’re used to different players, intensity, qualities. That was an important shock for us when we started. Qatar is a country of 300,000 people; maybe 10,000 play. Against us, the Emirates had maybe one starter who was from the Emirates: the rest were Brazilians, Portuguese, Poles … we beat them. You have to improve quality, but maintain that essence. “The biggest difference we found was in the level of competitiveness, the pace, the games they’re playing. We’re maybe the only national team [here] with lots of players who have only played four, five times this year. Our league has a lot of foreigners so there are 19, 20, 21-year-old players not getting the opportunity. The goalkeepers are all Qatari so often it’s as little as two outfield players.” Lopetegui reflected.
Now, after tenures with Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves, and West Ham, he finds himself back in the World Cup spotlight.
The memories of Russia linger, igniting thoughts of what might have been. “Those games would have been useful, especially to define our gameplans,” Lopetegui ponders. “We had to make do with sessions among ourselves and there were three weeks when players couldn’t train at all because they weren’t allowed to leave home. The physical preparation wasn’t ideal. “It was unpleasant, unlike anything I have ever experienced. You’re waiting on the alerts, hanging on your phone. You get a message saying don’t leave home, another when the risk has dropped. Stay in safe areas, indoors, away from glass. “Most of the bombs fell where the US bases are so you felt more or less safe away from there, but your family is saying: ‘Come back.’ First, you can’t: for 10, 15 days the airspace was shut. Then I didn’t think it was right. “When the airspace opened and my wife went back, I stayed. I had a responsibility to be there. It’s not being a hero or anything; it’s that I felt that was our duty, what I had to do.”
“One of the things that most concerned us was finding a message that reflected our reality without losing that excitement. “The first part of the process is emotional, the second is footballing. Find a structure to extenuate our qualities and hide our defects. We need a plan for three games without getting frustrated. “We know that when the ball [at the draw] comes out with Qatar in, the other teams are happy. That shouldn’t annoy us; we should know. They have to beat us. “We have to construct the best competitive scenario. We have to find a balance. We can’t let a player’s head drop – we still have ambition, still have excitement – but nor can we think we’re something we’re not. “All this has been an incredible experience, tremendously constructive, a reset. It’s been a period of personal introspection and that’s been a powerful process: a lesson in humility, in accepting what I can do and what I can’t do. “When you go to a World Cup, you can think: ‘Bloody hell, this is a success.’ And it is a success in capital letters, but you can’t just cling on to that. You can’t think: ‘It’s done.’ No. Not likely. That’s a mistake. So now we have to ‘sharpen’ our ‘lance’ and compete. “Qatar celebrated being here as something unique and it is. But as José Mota[’s famous comedy sketch] goes: We can go, but going just for the sake of going is stupid. We’re going to the World Cup to compete. We’ve earned the right to try.”
An opportunity is now finally within Lopetegui’s grasp. While it may not be the same, it certainly holds significance. “We came for two main reasons: to take on a huge challenge no one had done [qualifying for the World Cup, as Qatar was automatically in the 2022 tournament] and to test ourselves in a very different context,” he explains. “And, of course, there was that feeling, the hope of being at a World Cup, which we could have pursued with another national team.”
“We could have been eliminated immediately against Iran, the Brazil of [the region], but we managed to win 1-0, which allowed us to advance against Emirates [UAE] and Oman. We needed to assess what we could achieve, rather than simply focusing on our desires.”
“You’re accustomed to different players, intensity, and qualities. That was a significant shock for us at the outset. Qatar is a nation of 300,000 people; perhaps only 10,000 play. Against us, the Emirates featured maybe one player from the Emirates: the rest were Brazilians, Portuguese, Poles … we triumphed over them. We must enhance our quality while preserving our essence.”
“The most notable difference we encountered was the level of competitiveness, the pace of play, and the caliber of matches they engage in. We might be the only national team [here] with numerous players who have only participated four or five times this year. Our league comprises many foreigners, which leaves 19, 20, and 21-year-old players without opportunities. The goalkeepers are all Qatari, so often there are as few as two outfield players.”
In March, two scheduled friendly matches were canceled when Iran bombed Qatar. “Those games would have been invaluable, particularly in shaping our strategies,” Lopetegui remarks. “We had to rely solely on internal sessions, and there were three weeks when players couldn’t train at all due to restrictions. The physical preparation was subpar.”
“It was harrowing, like nothing I have ever encountered. You’re waiting for alerts, glued to your phone. You receive a message advising you to stay indoors, followed by another indicating that the risk has diminished. Stay in secure areas, indoors, away from glass.”
“Most of the bombs fell near US bases, so you felt relatively safe away from those areas, but your family kept urging you: ‘Come back.’ Initially, you can’t: for 10 or 15 days, the airspace was closed. Then, I believed it was inappropriate to leave.”
“When the airspace reopened and my wife returned, I stayed. I had a responsibility to be present. It’s not about being a hero; it’s simply my duty, what I felt I had to do.”
Throughout this ordeal, Lopetegui remained focused on preparing his team. He asserts that this experience is unlike anything he has faced before and is enriching, enhancing his abilities as a coach. “One of our primary concerns was to develop a message that encapsulated our reality without sacrificing enthusiasm.”
“The initial phase of this process is emotional, while the second is tactical. We need to establish a structure that highlights our strengths and conceals our weaknesses. We require a plan for three matches without succumbing to frustration.”
“We understand that when the draw reveals Qatar, other teams will be pleased. That shouldn’t bother us; we need to recognize that they must defeat us.”
“We must create the most competitive environment possible. We need to maintain a balance. We cannot allow a player’s spirit to falter—we still possess ambition and excitement—but we also cannot deceive ourselves about our standing.”
“This entire experience has been phenomenal, immensely constructive, a reset. It has prompted personal reflection and has been a powerful process: a lesson in humility, in understanding what I can and cannot accomplish.”
“When you attend a World Cup, you might think: ‘Wow, this is a success.’ And it is a significant achievement, but you cannot just cling to that. You cannot think: ‘It’s done.’ No. That would be a mistake. So now we must ‘sharpen’ our ‘lance’ and compete.”
“Qatar celebrated its presence here as something extraordinary, and it is. However, as José Mota’s famous comedy sketch suggests, we can go, but going merely for the sake of attending is foolish. We are going to the World Cup to compete. We’ve earned the opportunity to try.”
