Qatar national team star Akram Afif sparked widespread controversy among Al Annabi supporters with a post he published on his Instagram account, ahead of Wednesday's decisive encounter against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the third and final round of the 2026 World Cup group stage.
Afif appeared in the image bent over with a ball bearing the Qatar Football Association crest on his back, accompanying it with the words: "The time has come to be or not to be — promises must be kept," in a message through which he sought to emphasise the importance of the match and call for unity in order to keep alive Qatar's hopes of advancing to the second round.
The post came at a sensitive moment for the Qatari national team, which has only 1 point to its name following a draw with Switzerland, having suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Canada in the previous round, leaving the team needing a victory in their final match to revive their chances of reaching the next stage.
Although Afif intended the post as a motivational message and a display of the weight of responsibility, the image opened the door to sharp criticism, with some viewing it as giving the impression that the player alone bears the burdens of Qatari football, including the football association itself. This prompted Afif to delete the post from his account following a wave of intense backlash from followers.