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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!

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.”