logo
Saudi Arabia and Qatar gain home advantage in next Asia qualifiers for 2026 World Cup

Saudi Arabia and Qatar gain home advantage in next Asia qualifiers for 2026 World Cup

Arab News17-07-2025
KUALA LUMPUR : Saudi Arabia and Qatar drew home advantage in the fourth round of Asia qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
In October, Qatar will host Group A that also contains the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Saudi Arabia welcomes Iraq and Indonesia into Group B.
The winner of each round-robin group will take Asia's last two remaining automatic spots at next summer's tournament, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The teams that finish second will then meet, with the winner progressing to inter-confederation playoffs, which are scheduled for March 2026.
Six teams from Asia secured qualification last month: Japan, Iran, South Korea and Australia have all participated numerous times, while Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their first appearance.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

IMMAF Youth World Championships concludes in Al-Ain
IMMAF Youth World Championships concludes in Al-Ain

Arab News

time3 hours ago

  • Arab News

IMMAF Youth World Championships concludes in Al-Ain

AL-IN: The sixth edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships officially concluded on Sunday with the UAE claiming another medal to take its total for the tournament to 13. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport This year's edition welcomed more than 1,000 athletes from 60 countries, competing in four youth divisions — making it the largest and most advanced championship in the history of the International Mixed Martial Ats Federation. At the conclusion of the event, Ukraine was crowned overall champion, followed by England in second place and Tajikistan in third. The winning teams were honoured at the conclusion of the event on Sunday. The UAE national youth team made a notable impact, securing 13 medals in the gold, silver and bronze categories. The results reflect the national federation's ongoing investment in youth development and technical excellence, strengthening the country's growing reputation on the global MMA stage. The final day also featured a ceremony to honor key partners and individuals who contributed to the success of the championship. Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al-Dhaheri, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and chairman of the MMA Committee, expressed his pride in the event's success. 'This championship reflects the confidence the international MMA community places in the UAE's capabilities. Hosting this global event in Al-Ain underscores our growing reputation for excellence in sports organisation,' he said. 'We are also proud of the outstanding performance of our young athletes. Their determination and discipline represent the spirit of our nation and reaffirm our leadership's vision to create opportunities for future generations in sport.' Organised by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, the championship was held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and ran from July 21-27. Saleh Mohamed Al-Geziry, director general for tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, said: 'The rising popularity of combat sports in Abu Dhabi reflects a growing passion for athletic excellence and global sporting prestige. We are proud to welcome to the emirate the IMMAF Youth World Championships, a landmark event that highlights our commitment to nurturing young talent and advancing mixed martial arts on the world stage.' He said hosting the championship in Al-Ain for the first time would 'elevate Abu Dhabi's reputation as a premier hub for international sports.'

‘Sports must go on,' says ex-Indian captain on Asia Cup cricket clash with Pakistan
‘Sports must go on,' says ex-Indian captain on Asia Cup cricket clash with Pakistan

Arab News

time4 hours ago

  • Arab News

‘Sports must go on,' says ex-Indian captain on Asia Cup cricket clash with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Former captain and ex-Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Saurav Ganguly has backed India playing Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup tournament in the UAE, saying that 'sports must go on' despite surging tensions between the two countries. Pakistan and India are set to lock horns in the upcoming Asia Cup tournament to be played from September 9-28. The two traditional archrivals are expected to meet each other on the cricket field on September 14 in a high-stakes group clash to be held in the UAE. India and Pakistan have not hosted each other for a bilateral series in over a decade, with political and security concerns consistently spilling over into cricketing ties. Former Indian cricketers, including Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan, have publicly called for India to boycott matches against Pakistan after the two countries engaged in a brief military conflict in May. 'Yeah, I'm okay, I'm okay. Sport must go on,' Ganguly told Asian News International on Sunday. 'At the same time Pahalgam must not happen but sports must go on.' The former BCCI president was talking about an attack on April 22 at Pahalgam, a tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 people. The incident sparked an armed conflict between the two countries, with New Delhi blaming Islamabad for supporting the attack. Pakistan denied the allegations and called for an international, transparent inquiry into the incident. India and Pakistan enjoy one of the fiercest sports rivalries when it comes to cricket. Separated after partition in 1947, both nuclear-armed countries have fought three wars against each other over the past seven decades, with diplomatic ties between them remaining mostly bitter. The political tensions make for an enthralling contest every time the two teams compete against each other. India and Pakistan clashes have been the biggest, quickest-selling and most anticipated matches of every multilateral cricket tournament, drawing thousands to stadiums across the globe and millions to TV sets worldwide.

OpTic Gaming scoop Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 title at 2025 Esports World Cup
OpTic Gaming scoop Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 title at 2025 Esports World Cup

Arab News

time4 hours ago

  • Arab News

OpTic Gaming scoop Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 title at 2025 Esports World Cup

RIYADH: OpTic Gaming have won the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 contest at the 2025 Esports World Cup, beating Vancouver Surge 4-0 in the final to become the 11th unique champion at the tournament. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The American team, which finished in the top four last year, beat Vancouver Surge in a best-of-seven matchup on Sunday without dropping a game, having also beaten them in the Call of Duty League Championship final a few weeks ago. The tournament, which is one of the biggest on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 calendar, had 18 of the world's best teams battle for a prize pool of over $1.8 million. OpTic Gaming took home $600,000 and qualified for the EWC in 2026. This is their first world title, and welcome relief after facing a tough start to the 2025 season. Struggling to overcome those difficulties, OpTic made two changes for this year's event, bringing in Cuyler 'Huke' Garland and Mason 'Mercules' Ramsey, who both pulled off big performances to help win the trophy. 'Well, last time we played them, we knew we probably should have won 5-1, so we just honed in on our mistakes and made that look easy,' said Ramsey. 'Honestly, once we won against Team Heretics, we knew we were winning it as long as we just played our game. Definitely proud of myself, super thankful to my teammates. You guys are the best in the world.' Anthony 'Shotzzy' Cuevas-Castro was named the SONY MVP and will receive an additional $10,000. 'Undeniably, the players on this team are unbelievably talented,' he said. 'It feels like we are cheating at times.' OpTic Gaming earns 1000 Club Championship points for their victory and are in joint ninth place.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store