UAE to Compete Against Qatar and Oman in 2026 World Cup Qualifying Matches
The stage is set for the fourth round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the AFC region, as the teams in Group A and Group B have been determined. Here's an overview of the groups:
## Group A - **Qatar** (hosts) - **United Arab Emirates** - **Oman**
Qatar will host this group. The winner will earn an automatic spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The UAE, who last competed in the World Cup at Italia 1990, will be eager to secure a place in the tournament for the first time since then.
## Group B - **Saudi Arabia** (hosts) - **Iraq** - **Indonesia**
Saudi Arabia will host this group. Similar to Group A, the winner will secure an automatic spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia is attempting to qualify for its seventh World Cup finals since 1994.
The teams that finish second in each group will meet in a playoff match, with the winner advancing to the inter-confederation playoffs scheduled for March 2026.
Asia has been granted eight guaranteed berths at the 2026 World Cup finals. Already-qualified countries for the tournament include Australia, Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Jordan. A ninth berth for the 2026 World Cup finals can be won by the winner of the intercontinental playoff in March.
The UAE missed out on a direct berth for the 2026 World Cup in the third round of qualifiers, but Cosmin Olariu's team now gets another shot at glory in the qualifying rounds. The matches in Group A and Group B have not yet been played.
In other developments, Saudi Arabia will face Indonesia on Oct. 8, while Indonesia will play against Iraq on Oct. 11, and Saudi Arabia will face Iraq on Oct. 14. Group B matches will feature Qatar vs. Oman on Oct. 8, UAE vs. Oman on Oct. 11, and Qatar vs. UAE on Oct. 14.
It promises to be an exciting race to the 2026 World Cup finals in the AFC region, with teams battling it out for a place in the tournament. Stay tuned for updates on the qualifying matches.
- The UAE, eager to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time since Italia 1990, will be in Group A, which Qatar is hosting.
- Saudi Arabia, attempting to qualify for its seventh World Cup finals since 1994, will be competing in Group B, alongside Iraq and Indonesia, which they will host.
- In the event neither Qatar nor Saudi Arabia wins their respective groups, they will each play a playoff match to determine who advances to the inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026.
- With Asia being granted eight guaranteed berths at the 2026 World Cup finals, and the UAE failing to secure a direct berth in the third round of qualifiers, they now have another opportunity to qualify through the separate qualifying rounds, which have not yet been played.
