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Director of the Development Department at the Qatar Football Association (QFA), Fahad Thani Al Zarraa praised the Qatari national team's achievement after qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals, following its victory over the UAE in the third round of Group A of the Asian qualifiers. In remarks today, he said that reaching the finals of the upcoming World Cup confirms that Qatari football is on the right track, and that what was achieved was not a coincidence. He added that this achievement was the result of meticulous work and planning by the system as a whole, adding that it culminates in the tireless efforts of those responsible for Qatari football, ensuring its continued advancement and brilliance. Al Zarraa pointed out that participating in the World Cup finals for the second consecutive time confirms that we have a comprehensive sports project, led efficiently by the Qatar Football Association, with the support of our wise leadership, which has provided all means of success for all members of the sports system in Qatar. He explained that the QFA's Development Department is committed to achieving its desired goals, providing an environment conducive to achieving them. The most important of these is the graduation of successive batches of high-caliber players, who will be important contributors to the national teams and the club first teams, through ongoing coordination with the various departments of the Association and the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence. He added that the Qatar Football Association provides the necessary financial support to implement the development strategy developed and implemented by the Development Department, noting that what was achieved against the UAE national team is not just a sporting victory, but rather a new historic moment added to the record of achievements of Qatari football. The Director of the Development Department concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuing to provide opportunities for talent and studying the path to player development to reach professional levels. He also emphasized the need to focus on honing coaches through various training courses, noting that the Qatar Football Association is one of the most advanced Asian federations in the field of coach development.

The stage is set for a grand battle between Saudi Arabia and Iraq when they meet in their decisive AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 Playoffs Group B tie Tuesday at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah.It’s a winners-take-all match with the victors booking their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 while the beaten side will advance to a playoff against the Group A runners-up, with the winners to bid for one final chance in the FIFA Playoff Tournament.Both achieved wins against Indonesia with Saudi Arabia’s 3-2 success giving them a slight advantage over Iraq - who picked up a 1-0 win - with the group hosts needing only a draw to take the automatic berth.Herve Renard’s side have had better recovery time, having played on Wednesday but the Frenchman will be without midfielder Mohamed Kanno who was sent off in stoppage time against Indonesia.Renard’s faith in the dynamic 23-year-old Saleh Alshamat - who only had three international caps prior to the Indonesia match - paid off handsomely with the Al Ahli Saudi FC forward netting the equaliser against Indonesia. Feras Albrikan is also in good form, having bagged a brace.It is the defence, however, that is a cause of concern for the French tactician with Indonesia registering 17 shots, 10 of which were on target with Renard urging his players to keep their concentration for this crucial encounter.“What we did before, it’s nothing up to now because if we don’t achieve our goal tomorrow you won’t remember the game against Indonesia, the game we played in Bahrain so the most important is tomorrow,” said Renard.“I’m lucky because I have some players with experience like Saleh Al Shehri, Salem Al Dawsari our captain, now Hassan Al Tambakti is getting more experience. I always tell them to stay focused, it’s not always easy with the Saudi players but the most important is when they are listening, so we prepare for this game very quietly. We are concentrated on our goal and we don’t have to do something else, just focus on us. This is the most important."Head coach Graham Arnold is charting an appearance on the global stage for just the second time for Iraq.Iraq only failed to score in three of the 16 matches since Round 2 of the Qualifiers but the availability of topscorer Aymen Hussein remains in doubt after the forward wasn’t in the matchday squad on Saturday.Like his counterpart Renard, Arnold will also have to contend with a suspension with centre-back Zaid Tahseen unavailable following his red card in the closing minutes of the tie against Indonesia but the Australian tactician believes that his Iraq side will be heading into the match under less pressure than their rivals."Everything is great," said Arnold. "It’s a very special game tomorrow night and it’s one I’m really excited about."I think the pressure’s more on Saudi. They have in their brain two ways to qualify, that is draw or win. We have one way and that’s win. So our full focus is going out and go for it."We’ve already captured the spot for the playoff in November and we go for it because Saudi will have 90 percent of the fans, the pressure from the media, pressure from FIFA so the pressure is on Saudi."

Cosmin Olaroiu was proud of the resilience shown by the United Arab Emirates in the 2-1 win against Oman in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 playoffs on Saturday.Trailing to Kouame Kouadio’s first half own goal, UAE turned on the power in the closing minutes of the tie to turn the match around, with Marcus Meloni and Caio Lucas scoring to keep their hopes of a second FIFA World Cup Finals appearance alive.Olaroiu admitted that Oman had made the tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium into a slugfest.“The match was very difficult, and I congratulate the players for their determination and resolve to achieve victory, which is a well-deserved and fair result that placed us at the top of the group,” said the Romanian tactician, whose side only have to avoid defeat against Qatar tomorrow to book their ticket to next year’s global showpiece. “I would like to thank our fans for their great support during the match.”Olaroiu, who took charge of UAE after leading Sharjah FC to the AFC Champions League Two 2024-25 title in May, said UAE’s performance before the break forced his hand going into the second half.“I was forced to make a complete technical change at the beginning of the second half to change the players’ mentality and achieve victory,” said Olariu, who sent on Caio Canedo, Yahia Nader and Harib Abdalla to boost his side’s potency.“We played a match with different personalities in the two halves but we did everything necessary to win the match. Now we have the decisive game against Qatar.”While UAE will be bidding for a second appearance at the Finals after having made their debut in 1990, Oman’s dream for their global stage bow now depends on the Qatar-UAE result, with the second-placed team from the group advancing to a playoff against the Group B runners-up, with the winners to bid for one final chance in the FIFA Playoff Tournament.“Our players created many opportunities but failed to capitalise on them but they deserved a better result,” said head coach Carlos Queiroz.“Oman’s chances of qualifying remain, and our fans should be proud of the players’ efforts and high fighting spirit despite all the challenges.”

Oman coach Carlos Queiroz acknowledged the tough test awaiting his side against hosts Qatar at the fourth round of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World, but said his players are ready and confident.Oman will take on Qatar at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Wednesday in their Group A opener, with the UAE completing the three-team group. Only the group winner secure a direct berth in the next phase, while the runner-up will move into a two-legged play-off for a final shot at qualification.“We’re excited to begin our campaign against Qatar,” said Queiroz at the pre-match press conference Tuesday. “The team has prepared well and we believe in our ability to get a positive result to kick off our journey.”In the past, the 72-year-old has taken South Africa, Portugal and Iran twice into the World cup but doing so with Oman would be his biggest achievement yet. Wednesday’s match will be Queiroz's first against Qatar since he was sacked by the in the lead-up to last Asian Cup, a tournament won by the Portuguese coach's former team under his replacement, Marquez Lopez."In my opinion, if I was still the head coach, Qatar would not have been playing tomorrow," said Queiroz with a smile. "Qatar would have already qualified for the World Cup."The veteran coach expressed his delight at returning to Qatar. “It’s always a pleasure to be back in Qatar after having spent a wonderful time here. We hope to play at a level that reflects the aspirations of our fans in Oman.”Queiroz acknowledged the pressure that comes with high-stakes qualifiers but said his players are ready to rise to the occasion. “Pressure is part of football, you take risks, you gamble at times. But I have full trust in my players and their ability to stay focused and avoid costly mistakes in such an important match.”Meanwhile, veteran Omani defender Ali al-Busaidi expressed his team’s determination to fight for qualification. “We’re fully prepared for this stage. We understand the responsibility on our shoulders and are committed to doing everything we can to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.Al-Busaidi praised the Omani supporters for their unwavering backing and vowed to deliver a performance they can be proud of. “Our fans have always stood by us. We’ll give everything on the pitch to make them proud in these qualifiers. The level among the three teams is close. Every match will be a battle,” he said.Oman are seeking a maiden FIFA World Cup appearance. Six teams have already qualified from Asia – Japan, Iran, South Korea and Australia as well as the two debutants, Uzbekistan and Jordan.

Qatar have intensified their preparations for two crucial matches that will decide their fate in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as they prepare to host Oman and the United Arab Emirates at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Al Sadd.Al Annabi will open their campaign against Oman tomorrow, before facing the UAE on October 14, with Oman and the UAE meeting in between on October 11. The group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada next year. The runner-up will face the second-placed team from Group B — which includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Indonesia — in a two-legged play-off on November 13 and 18, with the winner advancing to the intercontinental play-off.Of the three sides in Group A, only Qatar and the UAE have appeared at the World Cup — Qatar making their debut as hosts in 2022, while the UAE’s sole appearance came in 1990. Oman are still seeking their first-ever qualification.Oman will hope to repeat their 2–1 victory over Qatar in last year’s Gulf Cup — their first win in 11 meetings since 2009. But Qatar, buoyed by the home crowd and the confidence of being back-to-back Asian Cup winners, will aim for a strong start. All matches will be played in Doha, giving the reigning Asian champions a clear home advantage as they target back-to-back qualifications, albeit first time on merit.Qatar topped their group in the second round of qualifying with 16 points, finishing ahead of Kuwait, India and Afghanistan. However, they struggled in the third round, ending fourth in Group A behind Iran, Uzbekistan and the UAE. Iran and Uzbekistan secured direct qualification, while Qatar and the UAE dropped into the play-offs.Qatar appointed Julen Lopetegui, the former Spain and Real Madrid coach, in May following his departure from West Ham United. Tasked with guiding Al Annabi back to the World Cup, Lopetegui has faced challenges, particularly in defence, and will need to manage pressure carefully in these decisive fixtures.Several former players have expressed confidence in Qatar’s chances. Former national team and Al Sadd forward Hassan Mattar told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that a strong start against Oman is crucial for building momentum and confidence. “Victory in the opening match will be a major step toward qualification,” Mattar said. “It will help the players settle early and give them belief ahead of the UAE clash.”He acknowledged that Qatar fell short of expectations in the previous qualifying round but said hosting the play-off stage in Doha provides a chance to reset. “This is the ideal opportunity for the team to get back on track,” he added. “Experience will be vital — these matches demand focus, discipline, and a fighting spirit. Small details often decide games at this level.”Mattar also called on the team to minimise errors and make full use of home support, saying the players’ mental and physical readiness will be key to achieving the desired results.Another former international, Abdulaziz Hassan, expressed optimism that Qatar’s current squad has the experience to handle pressure and the attacking firepower to make a difference. “Playing at home will give the players a strong push,” he said. “This group includes quality players like Akram Afif, Almoez Ali and Edmilson — players who can decide matches in key moments.”Hassan cautioned that Qatar must avoid complacency, noting the group is evenly matched. “The levels of Qatar, Oman and the UAE are quite close,” he said. “Every point matters — especially in the first game against Oman, which could shape the path to qualification.”

Asian champions Qatar will compete against Oman and the UAE in the play-off tournament of the FIFA World Cup 26 Asian qualifiers to secure a spot in the global event that will be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.Taking place at Doha's Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Group A matches will include a game between Qatar and Oman on October 8, followed by a match between Oman and the UAE on October 11, and will conclude with a game between Qatar and the UAE on October 14.Similarly, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia will compete against one another in the Group B matches that will be played in Saudi Arabia during the same period.The playoff matches will be held in a single round-robin format, with each team playing two games within their group. The top team in each group will qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup 26, while second-place teams will face each other in a two-legged inter-group playoff on November 13 and 18, with the winner then moving on to the intercontinental playoff.Qatar began their final preparation phase right after three local clubs: Al Sadd, Al Duhail, and Al Gharafa completed their participation in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite: West.In statements to the press, Qatar's Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui said that preparations went in an ideal manner and that the team will seek to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 26 despite the challenge of having to face two strong opponents: Oman and the UAE.He added that it is imperative that all team members maintain their mental focus and put in their maximum effort in persuit of the desired goal.Lopetegui said the fact that team Qatar are the champions of the last two editions of the AFC Asian Cup is a source of great pride, yet in football past achievements do not mean much when it comes to seeking achievements in real time, adding that what matters now is giving the upmost performance, being in the present moment, and being competitive as to surpass Oman and the UAE.The Qatar head coach pointed out that the team is facing an issue with injury, with the status of some key players remaining uncertain, yet noting that the coaching staff has been working to prepare all available players, though he admitted to some concern regarding certain individuals' readiness.Despite disappointing results in recent friendlies, Lopetegui emphasized that those matches serve as opportunities to test players, including a tough 4-1 loss to Russia and a 2-2 draw with Bahrain in September. He described the Russian match as a valuable learning experience despite the inconsistent performance between both halves.The Qatar head coach concluded his remarks by addressing fans and urging them to support the team by attending the upcoming games in order to give players a vital boost during these crucial playoff matches.

Qatar will take on Russia today at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in a friendly match as part of preparations for the fourth-round play-offs of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.This will be Qatar’s second friendly of the September international break. Earlier this week, they drew 2-2 with Bahrain in a closed-door game, while today’s fixture against Russia will be open to the public for no cost.The match carries added weight as it serves as Qatar’s final test before the crucial qualifiers. The Maroons are seeking to reach the World Cup for a second consecutive time and the first through qualification after featuring as hosts at Qatar 2022. Russia, ranked 35th in world, played out a goalless draw with Jordan on Thursday.Ahead of the match, Qatar defender Ahmed Suhail said: “It is going to be a strong match against Russia, which is a formidable side. We are ready, and all the players are looking to give their best. The game is important for us, and we will follow the coach’s instructions. We are completely ready for the match and are eyeing a strong performance. e are expecting the home fans to turn out in numbers, which will be very motivating for us.”Qatar, currently ranked 53rd, have been drawn in Group A of the play-offs alongside the UAE and Oman. Group B features Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia hosting their respective groups in a single-stage round-robin format from October 8–14.Qatar open their campaign against Oman on October 8, before facing the UAE on October 14. Oman and the UAE will meet on October 11. The group winners will book direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup, while the runners-up advance to a two-legged playoff on November 13 and 18, with the winner securing a place in the intercontinental playoff.Head coach Julen Lopetegui’s 25-man squad has undergone some changes during the international break, with Ahmed al-Janahi and Ismail Mohammed sidelined through injury and Youssef Abdul Razzaq called up as a replacement.Qatar squad:Meshaal Barsham, Salah Zakaria, Mahmoud Abu Nada, Ahmed al-Rawi, Ahmed Suhail, Ahmed Fathi, Bassam al-Rawi, Al-Mahdi Ali, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Jassim Jaber, Sultan al-Breik, Tariq Salman, Humam al-Amin, Akram Afif, Ahmed Alaa, Edmilson Junior, Asim Madibo, Abdulaziz Hatem, Guilherme Torres, Karim Boudiaf, Mohammed Khaled, Mohammed Manai, Mohammed Muntari, Youssef Abdul Razzaq