Qatar appeared on the 2022 World Cup as event hosts, however the 2026 version is their first by way of the qualification route.
Revealed On 14 Oct 2025
Qatar certified for soccer’s 2026 World Cup on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates due to second-half headers from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel.
It marks the primary time that Qatar, which misplaced all three group-stage video games when it hosted the 2022 event, has superior by means of qualification.
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The victory put Qatar atop Group A within the fourth spherical of Asian qualification, forward of the second-place United Arab Emirates (UAE), which now strikes on to the fifth spherical and playoffs. Oman was eradicated after ending third within the group.
Qatar’s finest first-half likelihood got here within the thirtieth minute, when Mohamed Al-Mannai’s header bounced simply broad of the UAE objective.
Two minutes into the second half, Khoukhi opened the scoring by heading in a free kick from Akram Afif previous goalkeeper Khalid Essa. With 17 minutes remaining, Afif supplied one other help, crossing from the left for Pedro Miguel to move house on the far publish.
Qatar was decreased to 10 males when Tarek Salman was proven a straight crimson card within the 87th minute. After eight of the quarter-hour added on, UAE pulled a objective again by means of Sultan Adil’s shot from inside the realm to make sure a tense end. UAE would have superior with a draw.
Japan and South Korea, which have already secured a spot at subsequent 12 months’s World Cup, each gained friendlies towards South American groups on Tuesday.
Japan beat Brazil for the primary time, combating from two objectives right down to win 3-2 in Tokyo. Ayase Ueda grabbed the profitable objective with a header within the 71st minute.
South Korea beat Paraguay 2-0 in Seoul.
