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Comoros, Oman, Bahrain and Sudan advanced in dramatic fashion on the final day of FIFA Arab Cup qualifiers in Qatar Wednesday. Comoros rallied from two goals down to edge Yemen on penalties, while Oman overcame 201st-ranked Somalia in a tense shootout. Elsewhere, Bahrain narrowly defeated Djibouti, and Sudan secured a hard-fought win over Lebanon despite playing much of the match with ten men. The tournament proper will start from December 1, with hosts Qatar taking Palestine, while Tunisia face Syria on the opening day.Oman 0-0 Somalia (4-1 Penalty Shootout)Oman have brushed off the disappointment of narrowly failing to secure a FIFA World Cup slot in October’s fourth round of AFC qualifiers by downing Somalia to reach the Arab Cup group stage.In front of a lively crowd at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Oman’s Nasser al-Rawahi had the best of the limited early chances, seeing a first-half effort well blocked and then flashing a shot across the face of the Somalia goal early in the second term.Somalia entered the clash in a modest vein of form but came within inches of breaking the deadlock as captain Abdulsamed Abdullahi forced Ibrahim al-Mukhaini into a smart save as the hour approached.That was the end of the clear-cut chances as the contest went straight to penalties, where both teams opted to make a goalkeeper change just as regulation time expired.It was Oman’s Ibrahim al-Rajhi who played a starring role, saving the first and third spot-kicks and then watching on as Mohammed al-Ghafri converted the fourth to secure his nation a place in Group B alongside Morocco, Saudi Arabia and either Comoros or Yemen.Bahrain 1-0 DjiboutiBahrain secured their spot in Group D with a narrow victory over Djibouti at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.They hit the front shortly before half-time when Mohamed Marhoon sent a low cross into the area which looked like a simple gather for Mouktar Youssouf, but he fumbled the ball into the path of Mohamed al-Romaihi to tap in. Djibouti's task was then made all the more difficult just seven minutes later as Ahmed Zakaria saw red for an off-the-ball elbow on Mahdi Abduljabbar.The Bahrainis came closest to doubling their lead with 15 minutes to go when Komail Al-Aswad crossed for al-Romaihi, but Youssouf redeemed himself with a fine diving save.Dragan Talajic's side will now head into Group D of the final tournament alongside Algeria, Iraq and one of Sudan or Lebanon.Sudan 2-1 LebanonSudan overcame incredible odds to secure an epic comeback victory over Lebanon and qualify for the Arab Cup group stage.The Falcons of Jediane, who went into the fixture having not won in their previous five outings, were reduced to ten men midway through the first half when frontman John Mano was sent off after picking up two quick yellow cards. Lebanon immediately capitalised on their advantage as Mohamad Safwan swung in a dangerous cross which Khalil Khamis converted from close range.Sudan refused to give up, however, and equalised just before the break when a powerful strike by Mustafa Karshoum was deflected by Lebanon captain Mohamad Haidar into his own net. Early in the second half, Sudan had two excellent chances blocked on the line and then took a deserved lead when Yaser Jobak beat Lebanon goalkeeper Mostafa Matar at the near post with a low drive into the net.Sudan goalkeeper then Monged Elneel pulled off a brilliant save in stoppage time from an Ali Kassas header to seal the improbable victory.Comoros 4-4 Yemen (4-2 Penalty Shootout)Comoros pulled off a comeback for the ages to defeat Yemen on penalties and advance to the group stage of the Arab Cup.It was a dream start for Yemen, as they broke the deadlock when Comoros goalkeeper Adel Anzimati failed to cleanly catch a corner kick and Harwan Alzuabidi pounced on the bobble to head home. But Comoros equalised when Zaid Amir was clipped in the area by Rami Alwasmani, and Housseine Zakouani tucked away the penalty.Yemen regained the lead in style, as Abdulwasea Almatari whipped in a cross that connected with the foot of Nasser Algahwashi for the goal. Almatari would then add a third for Yemen right before intermission by polishing off a counter-attack. Comoros pulled to within one when Zainou-Dine Mohamed’s shot deflected off Osamah Anbar and caromed into net. However, they were punished by a defensive miscue, allowing Almatari to slip in and tally his second of the night.Facing a two-goal deficit with just minutes remaining, Comoros surged late, with Amir as the hero. First, he calmly converted a penalty after a handball, and then equalised in dramatic fashion by running onto a deflected header from a Yemen defender to score and force penalties. From the spot, Anzimati was decisive in making two saves, while Comoros converted all four of their attempts, the winning one fittingly by Amir, to clinch victory. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

United Arab Emirates produced a remarkable turnaround to defeat Oman 2-1 in Group A of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers play offs at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha Saturday.Goals in the closing minutes of the match completed a comeback with the victory meaning UAE only have to avoid defeat against hosts Qatar on Tuesday to book their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 while Oman’s dreams were dashed as they ended their campaign with a single point.For Qatar, a win against UAE would guarantee a spot at the World Cup. While a draw would keep their chances alive as they would finish second in the group ahead of Oman, but face a two-legged showdown across November 13 and 18 against a side which finishes runner-up in Group B. This knockout stage will determine the AFC’s representative at the FIFA Playoff Tournament, where they will have to fend off opponents from other confederations to claim one of two berths.On Saturday, UAE started with Fabio Lima and Caio Lucas leading the line, while Oman made two changes from Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Qatar with Nasser al-Rawahi and Harib al-Saadi startling. Oman’s early pressure almost produced the opener in the sixth minute after Abdulrahman al-Mushaifri's challenge on UAE’s Abdalla Ramadan set Issam al-Sabhi through on goal but the Air Force Club forward’s attempt was denied by a timely intervention.UAE, however, were left stunned in the 12th minute when Oman broke the deadlock after Amjad al-Harthi drilled home Majed Hassan’s cross, which took a wicked deflection off Kouame Kouadio before settling in the back of the net.Cosmin Olaroiu’s UAE almost unlocked the Omani defence in the 21st minute when Lima’s lofted pass found Caio, who nodded the ball on for Nicolas Gimenez but the midfielder’s effort was parried by Oman keeper Ibrahim al-Mukhaini. A poor pass from Khalid Eisa almost gifted Oman their second eight minutes later when the keeper’s attempted chip was intercepted by al-Sabhi, only for Eisa to recover quickly and reclaim the ball.The Emiratis wasted their best chance just after the hour mark when Yahya al-Ghassani started a move on the left before ending his surging run down the centre by laying the ball for Gimenez, who dragged his effort wide. Olaroiu had sent on Caio Canedo, Yahia Nader and Harib Abdalla at different stages in the second half and a long ball from Gimenez found Canedo, whose volley was saved by al-Mukhaini.UAE thought they had a lifeline in the 70th minute when Thani al-Rushaidi looked to have brought down Ali Saleh inside the box with referee Alireza Faghani pointing to the spot but the decision was overturned following a VAR decision.The Emiratis, however, found the equaliser six minutes later when Saleh whipped in a pin-point cross for Marcus Meloni to finish with a thumping header past al-Mukhaini.Oman pushed forward but Eisa made a brilliant save to deny al-Mushaifri from close range in the 79th minute before UAE turned up the tempo to turn the match around four minutes later. Caio struck a curling effort from distance which dipped at the right time and bounced past a sprawling al-Mukhaini into the bottom right corner.Eisa then made a brilliant save when he got his fingertips to Zahir al-Aghbari’s shot from inside the box in the 89th minute as the UAE edged closer to a return to the FIFA World Cup, with their sole appearance coming in 1990.