Sport
Qatar set to learn route to World Cup as AFC Playoff draw takes place today
July 16, 2025 | 09:57 PM
The six teams – including Qatar – still in the running for FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification will discover their remaining battle paths at the AFC Asian Qualifiers draw at 3pm today at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Six of the eight direct berths on offer to Asia have already been claimed following the conclusion of the third qualifying round last month, which featured three groups of six teams. The third and fourth-placed sides from each of those groups — Qatar, Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — will get another shot via the playoffs, which is scheduled for October 8 to 14.The draw will divide the cast into two groups of three teams, with only the winners sealing progress to next year’s global showpiece. Each group will be played in a single round-robin format in a centralised venue — the Qatar Football Association and Saudi Arabian Football Federation were confirmed as the hosts last month.Oman, under the leadership of freshly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz, is the only side hunting a historic maiden FIFA World Cup appearance, with Indonesia, Iraq and UAE aiming to qualify for a second time each, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia will hope to make it back-to-back participations.The seeding for the draw will be based on the FIFA world tanking for AFC Member Associations that was specially announced by FIFA on June 13, 2025, to be utilised for the draw. The teams will be placed into three pots as below; Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as host associations, will be drawn into different groups during the ceremony.Pot 1: Qatar (FIFA Rank: 53), Saudi Arabia (58)Pot 2: Iraq (59), United Arab Emirates (66)Pot 3: Oman (79), Indonesia (118)Upon the conclusion of the playoffs group stage, the runners-up of each group 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 Play-Off Tournament, which offers one final qualifying opportunity. A draw to decide the host team of each leg in the knockout stage will be conducted following the Playoffs group stage draw.Qatar continue training in campMeanwhile, Qatari squad is continuing their overseas training camp in Austria, which began on July 11 and runs through July 27, as part of preparations for the play-off matches. Coach Julen Lopetegui is using the camp to fine-tune the squad’s tactical and physical readiness in hopes of guiding Qatar to a second consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance — and their first earned through qualification, following their automatic berth as 2022 hosts.Lopetegui announced a 30-man roster featuring several notable changes. Al Sadd midfielder Guilherme Torres earned his first national team call-up, while former captain Hassan al-Haydos returned to the fold. Veteran goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb was left out, with Marwan Sharif and Shehab al-Laithi brought in. The list also includes two fresh defensive additions: Youssef Ayman (Al Duhail) and Abdullah al-Yazidi (Al Sadd). The four goalkeepers selected are Meshaal Barsham, Salah Zakaria, Marwan Sharif, and al-Laithi. Other key players include Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Boualem Khoukhi, Karim Boudiaf, and Pedro Miguel.
July 16, 2025 | 09:57 PM