Qatar to face Oman, UAE in fourth round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Jul 17, 2025

The six teams aiming to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 discovered their path to the Finals following the conclusion of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Playoffs draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Hosts Qatar will face the UAE and Oman in Group A, with matches to be in a single round-robin format, scheduled for October 8 to 14. Group B hosts Saudi Arabia will have Iraq and Indonesia for company.

The six teams were divided into two groups, with only the top side from each to join the six Asian nations already through at next year’s global showpiece.

The second-placed teams from both groups will square off in a two-legged showdown across November 13 and 18. This knockout stage will determine the Continent’s representative at the FIFA Playoff Tournament, which offers one final qualifying opportunity.

A draw was also held to determine the host team of the knockout stage, with the Group A runners-up to host the first leg.

Australia, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Iran and Uzbekistan have already confirmed their spots at the Finals.

Qatar, aiming to qualify for the FIFA World Cup on merit after having made their debuts as hosts in the 2022, advanced to the play-off after finishing fourth in Group A of the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.

UAE, seeking a second appearance at the Finals following their debut in the 1990 edition, finished third in Group A in the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.

Oman, seeking a debut appearance at the global showpiece, finished fourth in Group B of the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.

Saudi Arabia, third consecutive and seventh overall appearance at the Finals, have to navigate the play-offs after finishing third in Group C of the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.

Iraq, whose only previous appearance at the FIFA World Cup was in 1986, made the play-offs after finishing third in Group B of the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.

Indonesia, whose previous appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals was in the 1938 edition, made the play-offs after finishing fourth in Group C of the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.