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Former Real Madrid centre-back Alvaro Mejia moved to Qatar in 2014 to play for Al Shahania SC. Six years later, he became assistant coach at the same club, and then took over as head coach in February 2022.It was less than nine months ago, in January 2025, that Mejia signed a contract with the Qatar Football Association, and for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup, he will coach the nation’s U-17 squad on home soil.With preparations well underway, Mejia spoke to FIFA about his decade-long career in the nation, his experiences in Qatar and what is to come in Group A against Italy, South Africa and Bolivia in Qatar's eighth appearance in the competition.Excerpts from his interview fifa.com:Q: What was it like going from club football to coaching Qatar's U-17 team? Did the call come as a surprise?Mejia: Yes, it was a surprise. I'd been at Al Shahania for ten seasons. It's where I call home, and I felt really settled there. I wasn't expecting the call, but when the challenge presented itself, it was a wonderful opportunity personally and for the country.This is a valuable experience for the Qatari players, who I think can gain a lot from it because it's challenging on every level. I jumped at the chance and was really excited about it. These last few months have been a whirlwind of non-stop work to get in the best possible shape for an international tournament featuring the best teams and promising young stars.Q: What was your experience of Qatar's footballing growth leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2022?Mejia: It was a beautiful process. We went through all the changes, from the facilities and stadiums to urban development, hotels and sports complexes. All the work that went into hosting such a major tournament took a gigantic effort.The country now occasionally hosts the Asian Cup, the Gulf Cup, and many other sporting events. The city changed so much with all that infrastructure being built for the World Cup 2022, but it was really beautiful once the construction was over. It was a special World Cup for everyone, and even more so because it was held in a single city. Everything took place within a few kilometres, with a metro system that worked beautifully. The 2022 World Cup was an outstanding event for all the football-loving fans who came along.Q: Does the same apply to this U-17 World Cup?Mejia: The facilities are second to none. For instance, the Aspire Zone grounds are within walking distance of each other, making for a festival-like atmosphere around the FIFA U-17 World Cup. It's a wonderful experience for young, talented players to compete in a World Cup, as well as the fans who get to see the whole thing within a 50-metre radius. Anyone who loves football will enjoy this kind of event. It will also bring benefits to the country as a whole. We're looking forward to getting started.Q: You'll be up against Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia in the group stage. Do you have a target in mind for Qatar?Mejia: We're just excited. This U-17 World Cup is a massive challenge. We are aware of Qatar's position, how strong the opposition will be, and what a huge challenge this is. We're going into it full of excitement, and our target is to get as far as we possibly can, bearing in mind that we'll be up against Italy, one of the best teams in the last European Championship. It's lovely to feel excited about doing the right thing and giving players this kind of experience. These types of matches at such a young age will help them grow. We're putting in the hard work to make sure we're as motivated and prepared as possible.Q: How do you work with the players?Mejia: We've tried to put into practice our original idea, but we've had to make some changes. The demands of the competition force you to adapt in certain circumstances, but we've been working with them over the last few months to get them tournament ready. Our aim is to feel comfortable on the ball. We know our opponents will try to put us in different situations, so we need to be prepared and try to get used to them. We want to be able to deal with whatever each match throws at us and adapt our style of play to the tournament itself.

Qatar's star striker Akram Afif expressed his delight at the team’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, saying that reaching the tournament through the qualifiers marks a new milestone for Qatari football.Afif, who was among the three finalists for the AFC Player of the Year award at the annual awards ceremony in Riyadh and lost out to Saudi Arabia’s Salem al-Dawsari. said he felt proud to be nominated once again for Asia’s top individual honour.“I congratulate the Qatari fans on qualifying for the World Cup, which is a significant achievement for Qatari football after our participation in the last edition as host,” the Al Sadd forward said.The two-time AFC Player of the Year winner, who helped lead Qatar to a 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates in Tuesday’s Asian play-off, added that the national team’s qualification reflected the hard work and spirit of the players. “I feel proud to be among the nominees for the award, and more importantly, to have qualified for the World Cup,” he said, expressing his gratitude to the fans for their strong support throughout the campaign.Afif has been in exceptional form, contributing decisively to both club and country. Last season, he registered 45 goal involvements for Al Sadd — scoring 23 goals and providing 22 assists in 36 matches — while leading the club to a second consecutive league title and the Qatar Cup. He was also the league’s top assist provider and guided Al Sadd to the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.During the AFC Awards ceremony, Afif drew attention for comments made in a televised interview regarding the closing moments of Qatar’s win over the UAE, in which he was seen gesturing toward supporters. Responding to questions about the incident, Afif said with a smile that he had encouraged fans to throw objects onto the pitch “just to waste time,” before quickly adding that he also asked them to stop so the referee would not extend the stoppage period.The tense finish in Doha saw Qatar secure a vital 2-1 win to top Group A of the Asian playoffs and confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup—the country’s second appearance at the global showpiece, and the first achieved through qualification.

The unique experience of Spanish coaching was marked successfully by the Qatari national football team, demonstrating its competence, excellence, and ability to achieve historic accomplishments with Qatari football, the latest of which was qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Qatar secured qualification for the World Cup, which will be held next year in the US, Canada, and Mexico, after defeating the UAE 2-1 in the final round of Group A of the Asian play-offs. Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui led the Qatari team to make history by successfully qualifying for the World Cup, adding a new chapter to Spain's record of success with Qatari football. Lopetegui took over the Qatari national team at the beginning of May, succeeding his compatriot, Luis Garcia. Despite the short period he spent in charge before the decisive matches, he was able to prepare the team in the necessary manner and gave the opportunity to many of them to participate in the starting lineup for the first time, despite the difficulty of the task. The team proved their worth and earned the coach's trust, contributing together to successfully qualify for the World Cup. This secured Qatar's second consecutive participation in the World Cup, and its first through the qualifiers after qualifying for the last FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022, as the host nation. The Spanish coach's achievements with Qatari football are not a recent development, but extend over the past decade, which has witnessed the presence of Spanish coaches who have left a clear mark and achieved historic accomplishments with Qatar's national teams. Spain's success with the Qatari national team began in gradual stages, beginning with coach Felix Sanchez, who successfully led Qatar to the 2014 AFC U-20 Championship title. Sanchez joined Aspire Academy in 2006, coming from Barcelona's renowned La Masia academy, to work on developing football in Qatar. In 2013, he took over as coach of the U-19 national team, and just one year after taking over, he succeeded in winning the AFC U-19 Championship, the team's first continental title in this age group. In line with Qatar's vision, Sanchez assumed responsibility for the youth teams, both U-20 and U-23, until he was chosen in 2017 to take over the first team, the majority of which was composed of members of the generation he had coached in previous youth groups. Just two years after taking charge of the national team, the Spanish coach led Qatar to win the AFC Asian Cup 2019 title in the UAE, marking the country's first continental title in an unprecedented historic achievement. He then went on to become the first coach to lead Al-Annabi to its historic appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. After a period during which Portuguese Carlos Queiroz took over as coach of the national team, Qatar returned to the Spanish footballing sphere with the appointment of Bartolome Marquez Lopez as coach shortly before the start of the 2023 Asian Cup in Doha. Lopez lived up to expectations, continuing the journey of achievements after successfully defending the title, leading Al-Annabi to win the continental cup for the second time in a row, which was also a historic achievement. Spain's successes with the Qatari national team continued when Julen Lopetegui led the Qatari national team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a historic achievement as it marked the first time the Qatari national team had qualified for the World Cup through the qualifiers. The Spanish coach's unique achievements confirm his outstanding success with Qatari football, writing a distinguished history, and his aspirations for further success.

Julen Lopetegui paid tribute to his players and the fans after Qatar booked their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday.A 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates confirmed the two-time Asian Cup winners' first ever FIFA World Cup appearance through the qualifiers with Lopetegui expressing his pride in his players' never-say-die attitude."I congratulate everyone on qualifying in a match we managed well with the players and the team. Yes, this is the first time the team has qualified through the qualifiers. This is a great thing for us, and we are happy to qualify and participate in the 2026 World Cup," said the Spanish tactician.Having drawn with Oman in their opener, Qatar had to defeat UAE to advance, resulting in a tight match at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. UAE, who beat Oman 2-1, also had the psychological advantage of having defeated Qatar twice in the previous round but fell to strikes from Boualem Khouki and Pedro Miguel, with Sultan Adil netting a consolation after the hosts were reduced to 10 men."The match was extremely difficult. We faced a strong and well-prepared team in the UAE. The first half was evenly matched. We wanted to score, and we achieved what we wanted at the beginning of the second half. I thank the players and the fans. Everyone did what was necessary. We overcame a difficult stage and qualified, delighting our fans," said Lopetegui.As a player, Lopetegui was part of Spain's squad at the 1994 World Cup squad but was third-choice goalkeeper and did not play. He was denied the chance to coach his national team at the 2018 World Cup. After taking Qatar to, the Real Madrid coach said "life owed me a World Cup""It seems like life owed me a World Cup, and fortunately, today I got it," the 59-year-old said. "It's a reward that I'm grateful for."For Lopetegui, the qualification carried personal significance. As a player, he was part of Spain’s 1994 World Cup squad but did not feature, and as coach, he was infamously dismissed just days before the 2018 tournament despite leading Spain through an unbeaten qualifying campaign.“It seems like life owed me a World Cup, and fortunately, today I got it,” the 59-year-old said with a smile. “It’s a reward I’m very grateful for. I’m excited to be back on the World Cup stage after what happened years ago — now it’s time to experience it with Qatar. There was a desire to be able to reach another World Cup, and that was an important factor in my decision to come here."Qatar’s performance in the 2022 World Cup, where they lost all three group games as hosts, is a reminder of the work ahead. Lopetegui acknowledged the task of rejuvenating the squad before 2026. “We have an older group,” he said. “We played with a 41-year-old in Sebastian Soria. We need to refine the team we’ll take to the World Cup.”Soria, making a surprise return to the national team after an eight-year absence, was emotional after the final whistle. “I’m happy and proud to have qualified,” the veteran striker said. “This generation deserves this achievement. Honestly, I feel lucky to be back with the team at this time. The fans were incredible.”Forward Almoez Ali echoed that sentiment. “Qualifying for the World Cup finals has a special flavor and came after a difficult match,” he said. “All the players were heroes today. This is a credit to the Qatari football system, and we want to make our next World Cup participation memorable.”Goalkeeper Abunada, whose early saves kept Qatar in the game, described the win as “a joy for the people.” He added: “The match was tough, but everyone fought to achieve this historic victory. The large crowd that came to support us made all the difference.”While Qatar can look forward to rubbing shoulders with the world's best next summer, UAE will now have to navigate a two-leg playoff against Iraq in November, with the winners to advance to the FIFA Playoff Tournament in March, where an additional two spots will be available.Head coach Cosmin Olariu did not hide his disappointment, with the Romanian feeling that his side did not maximise their chances."This is a disappointing result. We controlled the match and put pressure on our opponents. In the second half, we conceded an early goal. Football is sometimes unfair, and we must now enter a new phase and strive to return to the top of our game to secure our chances. It's unfortunate that this is where we've come to. We have to fight for our chance, and we have to learn from our mistakes going forward," said Olariu.

President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA First Vice-President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa congratulated Saudi Arabia and Qatar on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Sheikh Salman said the qualification of the Saudi and Qatari national football teams reflects the prominent stature of both nations' football within the Asian landscape, underscoring their sustained progress and growing excellence at both continental and international levels. He added that the achievement marks the culmination of strategic planning and sustained efforts by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Qatar Football Association, whose solid foundations have paved the way for qualification to the world's most prestigious football tournament. The AFC President commended the dedication, discipline, and professionalism demonstrated by the players, coaches, and administrative staff of both national teams throughout the qualification campaign, noting that their collective efforts embody the region's growing competitiveness and ambition on the global stage. Sheikh Salman expressed confidence in the ability of the Saudi and Qatari national teams to represent Asia with distinction at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside other qualified Asian nations. He stressed the importance of thorough preparation and high-level performance to reflect the continued progress of Asian football and further enhance its reputation on the global stage. He also extended his congratulations to the Iraqi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) national teams on reaching the knockout stage of the Asian playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, praising their impressive performances during the qualifiers and wishing them success in their ongoing pursuit of a place at the finals.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has extended his congratulations to the Qatari people following the national football team's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.In a message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, His Highness the Amir expressed pride in the remarkable sporting achievement and wished the team success in the upcoming tournament.Qatar secured their spot in the World Cup after Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates in the final round of the Asian qualifiers.

For much of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, Qatar’s dream seemed in jeopardy. The two-time Asian champions, who have dominated continental football since 2019, have long struggled to secure a World Cup spot on merit.This campaign was no different: four coaching changes, inconsistent defensive displays and heavy losses at key moments tested the team, forcing Qatar’s most capped player, Hassan al-Haydos, to come out of retirement to boost team morale.Their maiden appearance in 2022 as hosts had ended in disappointment, as they became the first host nation to lose all three group games. With FIFA expanding the tournament to 48 teams, qualifying on merit was not just a goal — it was essential to restore pride and showcase their progress on the global stage.Last night, a tense and action-packed 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates in the fourth round of Asian qualification secured Qatar’s place in next summer’s World Cup finals in North America — which should no doubt be a monumental relief for players, fans and everyone involved in Qatari football.At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, second-half headers from captain Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel, both delivered from Akram Afif’s expertly curled free-kicks, ensured Qatar will make their second successive World Cup appearance. But the night was far from calm.UAE fans erupted after each Qatari goal, hurling plastic cups and bottles, with a sandal even striking a member of Qatar’s support staff. Substitute Mohammed Muntari had to be restrained as the forward charged toward the away section after relentless provocation.And after Miguel’s 74th-minute strike, some UAE fans climbed over perimeter fences before police and security could restore order — a chaotic scene reminiscent of the 2019 Asian Cup clash when when sandals was hurled on the pitch on Qatar players.Drama reached its peak in the final minutes. Tarek Salman received a straight red card in the 89th minute for a reckless tackle, and deep into injury time, Sultan Adil pulled one back for the UAE, leaving the crowd on edge through 15 minutes of added time. When Uzbekistan referee Ilgiz Tantashev finally blew the whistle, emotions poured from players and fans alike with tears, relief and unbridled celebrations all mingling in the stands.The intensity extended beyond the pitch. Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui was accidentally struck in the face by his own player during an early tackle, adding to the night’s drama.The visitors’ lineup had been adjusted after their epic comeback against Oman less than 70 hours earlier, switching from an aggressive 4-2-4 to a more cautious formation designed to contain Qatar’s danger man, Afif.Qatar went into the game knowing only a win would suffice. Early threats came from Sultan al-Brake, whose close-range effort was blocked by goalkeeper Khaled Eisa, and Ayoub al-Ouwi, who flashed a rebound across goal. UAE came close themselves, with Lucas Pimenta heading wide in the 15th minute and Edmilson Junior twice creating chances that narrowly evaded Eisa.The breakthrough came four minutes after the restart. Saleh’s foul on Edmilson Junior gave Qatar a free-kick on the right flank, and Afif delivered a perfect cross for Khoukhi to head home. Three minutes later, Afif repeated the trick, this time finding Miguel at the far post to double the lead.UAE’s hopes were briefly revived after Salman’s red card, and Adil pulled one back in the 98th minute. Despite the late surge, Qatar held on, proving that after the turmoil and setbacks of the campaign, they could qualify on merit — and do so in spectacular fashion.Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, reflecting on the dramatic night, called it a “great achievement” for his side. “It was a very difficult match. We faced a strong and well-prepared team, the UAE. I congratulate everyone on qualifying in a match that we were able to manage well with the players and the team. Yes, this is the first time we have qualified, and this is a great achievement for us. We are happy to qualify and participate in the next World Cup,” the Spaniard said.“The first half was balanced. We wanted to score, and we achieved that early in the second half. We had to give our best in the match. I thank the players and the fans. Everyone did what was necessary. We overcame a difficult stage, qualified, and made our fans happy,” Lopetegui added.

Qatar left it late – fairly late – but what a wonderful night of football for the two-time Asian Cup champions. A dreary goalless draw in their previous game against unfancied Oman last week, Qatar last night had to play for everything against the UAE, a much more feisty side than most in the region. What could have been a straightforward path to 2026, it became a jaunty road to the World Cup finals but hosts Qatar grabbed their chance with courage as they beat the UAE 2-1 on a warm night at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.**media[368994]**Captain Bualem Khoukhi’s snap-header off an Akram Afif’s indirect free-kick found the back of the UAE net in the 49th minute, an effort that opened the door for Qatar’s passage to the football spectacle in the US, Canada and Mexico next year. Khoukhi’s 20th career international goal was clearly the most memorable for the Qatar captain. Qatar needed a hero and the captain arrived, soaring high in the air to deflect the ball past the UAE ’keeper. The flying effort was poetry in motion on a free-kick launched by Qatar’s most influential player of the last decade – Afif.After a number of threatening moves from both sides, Qatar’s mercurial forward Afif once again delivered a delicious long range free-kick that was expertly deflected into the UAE net by defender Pedro Miguel to double the lead in the 74th minute. The second goal by the ever reliable Pedro was spectacular as it was timely. It was game, set and match for UAE while Qatar fans went delirious in the stands. According to official stats, 13,038 fans were present at the venue.**media[368990]**Last night’s result at a packed Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium was a welcome scoreline for relatively new coach Julen Lopetegui who openly said ‘the chance to take Qatar to the FIFA World Cup stirred him on’. For Khoukhi and his men with a mighty ambition, this was the biggest match of their lives after back-to-back Asian Cup title wins in 2019 (in UAE) and 2024 (in Qatar) respectively. They didn’t disappoint their legion of fans who had come prepared to back their side with lung power!In May this year, Qatar Football Association welcomed former West Ham coach Lopetegui with the words: “Ready for a new chapter. Welcome Lopetegui. We’re excited to embark on this journey together,” the QFA wrote on social media. “I’m ready” the Spaniard said in a video accompanying the post on ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter. And ready he was. Ready to make surprise call-ups and shock picks. In an effort to boost Qatar’s chances for a berth at the 2026 Finals, Lopetegui recalled retired Asian Cup winning captain Hassan al-Haydos and surprisingly rang up former striker Sebastian Soria before last week’s Oman clash. What’s more, Lopetegui even gave match time to Soria, 41, for his first match in eight years for Qatar in the second half Tuesday.**media[368992]**Qatar, who had scored 27 times in their last 31 games prior to last night’s clash, put up a spirited display in the first half when both sides walked off without conceding a goal. However, after the break, Khoukhi magic titled the momentum towards Qatar as fans at a packed Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium thundered in approval for the boys in maroon. From free-flowing football witnessed in the first half, the tense game quickly turned into a slugfest as the battle for ball possession became a dogfight.Qatar – after months of edgy performances – last night delighted their fans by sealing their berth at next year’s finals in North America following a win that came after two demoralising losses against the UAE last year.It was sweet revenge for Qatar who last year successfully defended their Asian Cup title won in 2019.Al Annabi had produced a similar gutsy performance when they beat hosts UAE in the semi-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup, an event they won in spectacular fashion.From bidding for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2009 and hosting the football spectacle three years ago, Qatar football has made huge leaps in performance and style. In the last 6 years, Qatar have won two AFC Asian Cup titles (2019 and 2024) and have now sealed a berth at next year’s FIFA World Cup finals in the US, Canada and Mexico. From roping in quality players for the 12 clubs in the Qatar Stars League, Qatar football promises much for the fans and the game’s stakeholders.Well done, Qatar!

South Africa defeated Rwanda 3-0 in Mbombela Tuesday to win Group C and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.Thalente Mbatha and Oswin Appollis scored in the first half with Evidence Makgopa sealing victory with a goal midway through the second period.South Africa topped the table with 18 points, one more than Nigeria, who hammered third-placed Benin 4-0 in Uyo with Victor Osimhen claiming a hat-trick.However, Nigeria could still make it to the World Cup as they will be among the four best-ranked African runners-up who compete in a mini-tournament in Morocco during November.The winners of the play-offs, which involve single-match semi-finals and a final, advance to an inter-continental tournament in March with two World Cup places up for grabs.It will be the fourth appearance by South Africa at the global showpiece. They qualified for the 1998 and 2002 tournaments and were automatic participants in 2010 as the host nation.Belgium-born coach Hugo Broos was thrilled as he represented his country as a player at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and wanted to coach a team at the tournament before retiring."We all knew that we could do it, we believed in ourselves. We are going to the World Cup and it is fantastic," said the 73-year-old."In the last three years we changed players and every time it was the right choice. What happened tonight is the work of three years and the future looks very bright for South African football."We have the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco during December and then the World Cup. There are no words to express how I feel."Winger Appollis was voted player of the match after scoring and creating the other goals as South Africa regained their scoring touch after failing to find the net in a draw with Zimbabwe last Friday."What an amazing feeling for the group going to the World Cup. I am so happy for the boys," he told reporters."I know we had a draw in our last game, but I knew that we would come here to Mbombela tonight and win."Qualification was a huge relief for South Africa, who saw a five-point lead with four rounds remaining turn into a two-point deficit behind Benin entering the final round.South Africa dropped points in home draws with Nigeria and Zimbabwe and forfeited three points for fielding the ineligible Teboho Mokoena in a victory over Lesotho.South Africa needed to beat Rwanda and hope Nigeria defeated Benin, and that is what transpired with the home teams making dream starts.Nigeria were ahead within three minutes through Osimhen while Mbatha scored the first South African goal with just five minutes gone.A snap shot from Appollis midway through the opening half put South Africa in control and Rwanda spent most of the match on the back foot.Makgopa, a late call-up in place of injured Iqraam Rayners, headed into the net off a corner on 72 minutes to complete the scoring.Osimhen netted a second time before half-time and completed his hat-trick six minutes into the second half. An added-time goal from Frank Onyeka completed the rout.South Africa become the seventh African country to qualify for the expanded 48-team World Cup next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.They join Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia, and the final two automatic qualifiers will be decided later Tuesday.Group leaders Ivory Coast and Senegal need victories at home to Kenya and Mauritania respectively to qualify.

Qatar sealed their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a tense 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates in the Asian qualifying playoffs at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday night.Needing a win to progress, Julen Lopetegui’s side rose to the occasion with goals from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel, while Sultan Adil’s late strike for the UAE set up a frantic finish.Tarek Salman was sent off in the 89th minute after a VAR review for a studs-up tackle, but Qatar held firm through 15 minutes of stoppage time to claim a famous victory in front of a packed house at the home of Al Sadd.The 2022 World Cup hosts, who did not make it out of the group stage three years ago in their first ever appearance at the tournament, were deserving winners on the night.An emotional Akram Afif, who unlocked the UAE defence on both occasions with sublime crosses, was overjoyed after the memorable victory. “It’s a great achievement to qualify for the World Cup. We gave our best and got the result we wanted. The credit goes to our incredible fans, who turned up in large numbers and motivated us in this crucial match,” he said.Veteran forward Hassan al-Haydos echoed the sentiment, saying: “This is a moment we’ve dreamed of for a long time. It was the destiny of this generation to earn a place at the World Cup. This group is capable of achieving great things.”Captain Khoukhi said: “It’s time to celebrate, and I congratulate all Qataris on this historic achievement. We really worked hard for this win — we deserved this victory.”Both sides began cautiously, aware of the high stakes — a draw would have been enough for the visitors to qualify. Qatar dominated the early exchanges, with Afif pulling the strings in attack. Mohammad al-Mannai and Almoez Ali both went close before Nicolas Gimenez tested goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada from distance at the other end.After a goalless first half, Qatar broke through almost immediately after the restart. The two-time Asian Player of the Year Afif delivered a trademark curling cross from the left, and Khoukhi rose highest to head home in the 46th minute, sending the home crowd into raptures.Qatar doubled their lead in the 74th minute when Miguel nodded in another pinpoint Afif delivery from a set piece. The UAE threw everything forward in the closing stages, and Adil pulled one back deep into stoppage time, but Abunada’s late saves preserved the win amid rising tension.The result confirmed Qatar’s direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. The UAE will now enter a two-legged playoff against the Group B runners-up in November, with the winner advancing to an intercontinental playoff for one final chance to reach the finals.Qatar became the seventh Asian side to qualify for the global showpiece, joining Uzbekistan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea, Japan and Australia.

Cape Verde beat Eswatini 3-0 on Monday to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, booking their place in football’s global showpiece for the very first time.The team from an archipelago off the coast of Senegal has about 550,000 inhabitants, making Cape Verde the country with the smallest population to represent Africa in the global showpiece.Cape Verde won Group D with 23 points, four more than Cameroon, who hold the African record for World Cup appearances with eight. Cameroon drew 0-0 with Angola in Yaounde.After dominating the first half of the 2026 qualifier, but seldom threatening to score, the Blue Sharks struck twice through Dailon Livramento and Willy Semedo in the first nine minutes after half-time before a 15,000 flag-waving crowd in Praia.Livramento claimed his fourth goal of the 10-round qualifying campaign on 48 minutes and Semedo struck six minutes later. Both goals came from close-range tap-ins.Cape Verde added a third goal in added time when Stopira, a substitute for Joao Paulo, pounced on a loose ball to score.Cape Verde rely heavily on players born outside the nation to Cape Verdean parents or grandparents. Livramento was born in Rotterdam and Semedo near Paris.Eswatini had come to the 10-island archipelago with little attacking ambition, adopting a 5-4-1 formation in front of goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala. But after conceding twice there was no way back for the team from southern Africa, who lost seven qualifiers and drew the other three.Cape Verde spread the national team net wide with three starters based in Portugal and one each in the United States, Republic of Ireland, UAE, Romania, Russia, Netherlands, Turkey and Cyprus.The remarkable qualification of Cape Verde came after they made a disappointing start to the 10-match campaign, drawing 0-0 at home with Angola and slumping to a 4-1 loss in Cameroon. Those results left the Blue Sharks with four points from a possible nine, having won away to Eswatini in between. But after the matchday three loss in Yaounde, Cape Verde won five consecutive qualifiers, including crucial one-goal victories away to Angola and at home to Cameroon.That left the islanders needing three points from their final two qualifiers this month and a drama-filled 3-3 in Libya secured one before hosting Eswatini.Last year, in the midst of the World Cup campaign, Cape Verde fared poorly in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, winning only one match of six and failing to secure a place at the tournament.Despite flopping in a group from which Egypt and Botswana advanced, Cape Verdean officials retained faith in long-serving coach Pedro Leitao Brito.After two stints as assistant coach of the national team and spells with five local clubs, the coach popularly known as Bubista took charge of Cape Verde in 2020.The 55-year-old former centre-back, who represented his country 21 times, guided Cape Verde to successive AFCON tournaments, in Cameroon three years ago and Ivory Coast last year.They reached the knockout phase each time, making a last-16 exit, then losing a quarter-final against South Africa on penalties after having four spot-kicks saved. In Group H, already-qualified Tunisia achieved a ninth victory by overcoming second-placed Namibia 3-0 near Tunis with Hannibal Mejbri from Premier League outfit Burnley among the scorers.The Carthage Eagles, who will make a seventh appearance at the World Cup next year, scored 22 goals in 10 qualifiers and did not concede. Despite the loss, Namibia edged Liberia on goal difference for the runners-up spot, but will finish last in the table for second-placed nations and be eliminated.Having suspended French coach Nicolas Dupuis after a five-goal hiding from Senegal last Friday, South Sudan kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 Group B draw with fellow eliminated side Togo.Top spot in the section rests between Senegal, the leaders with 21 points, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are two points behind. Both play their final qualifiers Tuesday.Scotland stay in contention, Dutch move closerScotland ground out a 2-1 home win over Belarus on Sunday, to stay in contention for automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup, while the Netherlands closed in on securing their berth at the tournament with a win over Finland. Steve Clarke’s Scotland sit joint top of Group C with Denmark, after the Danes beat Greece 3-1 with Rasmus Hojlund opening the scoring for the home team.Denmark are first in the pool on goal difference but their win in Copenhagen ensured Scotland of at least a play-off spot as they bid to make a first World Cup appearance since 1998.The pool-toppers meet in the final qualification matchday on November 18 in Glasgow.Che Adams scored the opener for the hosts on the quarter-hour at Hampden Park in an otherwise uninspiring performance by Scotland. They thought they were due a penalty just shy of the hour for a succession of incidents in the Belarus box, including two calls for a foul and hand-ball shouts going both ways, but after a lengthy VAR review the referee declined the home side’s appeals and awarded a free-kick out.

History, form, and recent head-to-head records will all be against Qatar when they face the United Arab Emirates in a crucial Asian World Cup Qualifiers playoff at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium Tuesday. Despite enjoying home advantage and a six-day break between matches — compared to just three days for the UAE and Oman — the Asian champions find themselves in a must-win situation in their bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Qatar produced an underwhelming performance in their goalless draw with Oman, while the UAE came from behind to defeat the same opponents, putting them firmly in control of Group A. A draw will be enough for the Emiratis to secure qualification, but Qatar — second only on goal difference ahead of Oman — must win to reach their second successive World Cup and the first on merit. A draw would send them into a two-legged playoff against the Group B runners-up, currently Iraq, who face Saudi Arabia Tuesday. The winner of that tie, to be held in November, will advance to an intercontinental playoff for one final chance to qualify. In truth, Qatar have struggled throughout the qualification campaign. What’s more concerning is their recent record against the UAE — having lost both home and away encounters in the previous round. Last September, Al Annabi were beaten 1-3 at the very venue they play Tuesday, and two months later in Abu Dhabi, Brazil-born playmaker Fabio De Lima scored four goals in a 5-0 thrashing. While past results may count for little in a decisive match like this — where a single moment of brilliance or lapse in judgement can settle matters — Qatar’s qualification record does little to inspire confidence. Still, the 15,000-capacity crowd at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium — with UAE fans allocated just eight percent of tickets — will be firmly behind the home side, hoping their support can make the difference. Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui has not inspired much confidence either, with the former Spain and Real Madrid manager fielding two debutants — 20-year-old Al Gharafa defender Ayoub Aloui and 25-year-old Al Rayyan goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada — in an important clash against Oman. That tactic did not yield the desired result, though the two new faces fared better than some of their more experienced teammates. It will be interesting to see what lineup Lopetegui chooses Tuesday, with the odds in favour of him fielding a stronger side. Almoez Ali — who came on only in the 57th minute against Oman — is set to start, while star forward Akram Afif, who squandered Qatar’s best chance early in the second half, will also need to be at his best. Veteran Hassan al-Haydos, who returned from international retirement specifically for the play-offs, remained unused against Oman and his calming presence might make a difference Tuesday. Ahead of the match, Lopetegui was upbeat about Qatar’s chances and said his side was ready to “make the dream a reality.” “We’ve been working for months to reach this incredible opportunity and to chase a big dream,” said Lopetegui. “Our focus is fully on the moment ahead and we’re preparing to be ready tomorrow to make that dream a reality.” The Spaniard dismissed any notion that two recent losses against the UAE would have any psychological impact on his players. “We know we’ll be facing a very strong national team — full of quality players and led by an excellent coach — but our attention is on our own strength, on our team,” he said. “We’re ready and looking forward to tomorrow. I believe the story of our previous matches against them is already written, but tomorrow’s story is still to be written. That’s why it’s crucial for us to compete at our best and have full confidence in ourselves. We need to trust in our team and our strengths. We must keep pushing to achieve this great dream we’ve been chasing for a long time and stay completely focused on the moment ahead,” Lopetegui added. Meanwhile, the UAE, who are seeking to return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1990, are not short on confidence. Cosmin Olaroiu’s second-half adjustments proved decisive against Oman, with substitutes Caio Canedo, Yahia Nader and Harib Abdalla making an immediate impact to spark the turnaround. The Romanian coach can be expected to tinker with his starting lineup against Qatar. Olaroiu was not in charge when the UAE beat Qatar twice in the previous round, as he replaced Paulo Bento only in May. But under him, the UAE have looked no less lethal. Marcos Meloni and Caio Lucas scored for the Emiratis against Oman, with Ali Saleh, Nicolas Gimenez, and Fabio Lima also making crucial contributions. Olaroiu — who guided Sharjah to AFC Champions League triumph before taking charge of the national team — urged his players to give one final push in what he described as their “last battle.” “Tomorrow, we go from two games down to one — the final battle. We have to treat it like a final, and we hope we can achieve this dream for the UAE,” he said. Olaroiu was not too happy with the short turnaround for his side, though he seemed to take it in his stride, insisting his players must focus on their performance. “When you play this kind of game, you find the energy everywhere,” he said. “The players have the will and belief to play with full strength. It’s a short recovery time, but we can’t complain. We have to face it. The players want to play, so they will find the reserves to recover and to play with full energy tomorrow. I’m sure about this. They will try their best, I’m sure. They believe, always, and I expect tomorrow they will do it again.”