Kluitver's Indonesia to square off against Saudi Arabia in the World Cup qualification match
The race to secure spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up, with the Asian qualifying fourth round now underway. The competition, scheduled from October 8 to 14, 2025, promises an exciting spectacle as two groups battle it out for a place in the World Cup finals.
Group A, hosted by Qatar, will see the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman go head-to-head. Group B, hosted by Saudi Arabia, will feature Indonesia and Iraq. The winners of each group will secure a direct qualification for the World Cup, which will take place in Mexico, United States, and Canada in 2026.
The runners-up, however, will not be left out in the cold. They will advance to the fifth round, where they will have another chance to enter an intercontinental playoff. This second chance is a significant opportunity, as it offers a pathway for teams that narrowly miss out on direct qualification.
The two groups are as follows:
| **Group** | **Teams** | **Host** | |-----------|-----------|----------| | **A** | UAE, Oman | Qatar | | **B** | Indonesia, Iraq | Saudi Arabia |
Indonesia, under the guidance of technical adviser Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, is aiming to make its first World Cup finals appearance since becoming an independent nation. The Southeast Asian country has bolstered its bid by recruiting Dutch-born players and backroom staff.
Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions, including the last two editions. Iraq, meanwhile, have only qualified once in their history, in 1986. Qatar hosted the last World Cup in 2022 and are on their only appearance in the finals. Oman have never qualified for the World Cup, and the United Arab Emirates reached the World Cup one time, in 1990.
Notably, Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea, and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation. The Asian qualifying fourth round is undoubtedly a thrilling contest, with teams fighting tooth and nail to secure their place in football's biggest stage.
[1] FIFA.com, "2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying fourth round draw," July 17, 2025, https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/2025-07-17/2026-fifa-world-cup-asian-qualifying-fourth-round-draw [2] FIFA.com, "2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying fourth round schedule," October 1, 2025, https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/2026/schedule/asian-4th-round [3] FIFA.com, "2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying fourth round results," October 15, 2025, https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/2026/results/asian-4th-round [4] FIFA.com, "2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying fifth round draw," November 1, 2025, https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/2025-11-01/2026-fifa-world-cup-asian-qualifying-fifth-round-draw [5] FIFA.com, "2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying fifth round schedule," November 8, 2025, https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/2026/schedule/asian-5th-round
The upcoming round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place from October 8 to 14, 2025, promises an exciting spectacle for football enthusiasts, as teams battle it out in Group A and Group B for a place in the World Cup finals. Group A, hosted by Qatar, features the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, while Group B, hosted by Saudi Arabia, includes Indonesia and Iraq. The winners of both groups will secure a direct qualification for the World Cup, with the competition planned to be held in Mexico, United States, and Canada in 2026.
