Qatar’s official news agency says the Football Association has terminated Lazaroni’s contract after “a series of weak performances,” including the team’s failure to progress beyond the group stage in the Arab Games last week.

The report Monday did not say who will replace Lazaroni, the third Qatar coach to have been sacked this year.

The Gulf nation has never qualified for the World Cup and is under pressure to improve after becoming the first Arab country to win hosting rights to football’s biggest event.

Before taking over the national team from Serbia’s Milovan Rajevac in August, Lazaroni led local club Qatar SC.

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