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Kuwait Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Saudi Arabia to meet Iraq, Indonesia in World Cup qualifiers
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia were drawn to take on Iraq and Indonesia in the fourth phase of Asia's preliminaries for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday with back-to-back Asian Cup winners Qatar facing the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The winners of each of the three-team groups, which will be played in October, will join already-qualified Australia, Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran and Jordan at next year's expanded 48-nation finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Saudi Arabia, who are attempting to qualify for a seventh World Cup finals since 1994, will host Group A and open against Indonesia on October 8. Indonesia will then play Graham Arnold's Iraq on October 11 before the Saudis and Iraq face off on October 14. Iraq have only qualified once in their history, in 1986. Group B hosts Qatar, organizers of the 2022 World Cup but who have never qualified for the finals, will take on Oman in their first game on October 8. UAE will face the Omanis on October 11, with Qatar and the UAE meeting on October 14. The United Arab Emirates reached the World Cup one time, in 1990, while Oman have never qualified. The nations finishing in second place in each group will advance to a further round of qualifying, which will be held over two legs in November on a home-and-away basis. Asia has been granted eight guaranteed berths at the finals. A possible ninth berth is available to the winner of November's match-up via an intercontinental playoff in March. Dutch-born players Patrick Kuivert's Indonesia have embarked on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and backroom staff to bolster their bid for a first World Cup finals berth since becoming an independent nation. Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, was in February appointed technical adviser to the Football Association of Indonesia to work alongside Kluivert. Indonesia last qualified for a World Cup while still under Dutch colonial rule and lost 6-0 to Hungary in their only match of that tournament, hosted by France. They will face a difficult task against Middle East giants Saudi Arabia, who have home advantage and will be heavily favored to top Group B. The Saudis have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions including the last two editions. Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation. — Agencies


New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Kluivert's Indonesia to face Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying
KUALA LUMPUR: Patrick Kuivert's Indonesia were on Thursday handed a tough draw for the final round of Asian qualifying as they try to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1938. Coached by former Barcelona star and Dutch great Kluivert, Indonesia will play hosts Saudi Arabia and Iraq in Group B of the fourth round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 finals. Qatar will host Group A and face the United Arab Emirates and Oman after the six-team draw took place at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Matches in both groups will be played in a single round-robin format in October in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The two group winners will join the six Asian nations already qualified for next year's global showpiece in Mexico, the United States and Canada. The two second-placed teams will meet in November, with the winner over two legs entering an intercontinental playoff for the final spot at the 48-team World Cup. Indonesia have embarked on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and backroom staff to bolster their bid for a first World Cup finals berth since becoming an independent nation. Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, was in February appointed technical adviser to the Football Association of Indonesia to work alongside Kluivert. Indonesia last qualified for a World Cup while still under Dutch colonial rule and lost 6-0 to Hungary in their only match of that tournament, hosted by France. They will face a difficult task against Middle East giants Saudi Arabia, who have home advantage and will be heavily favoured to top Group B. The Saudis have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions including the last two editions. Iraq have only qualified once in their history, in 1986. Qatar hosted the last World Cup in 2022 on their only appearance in the finals and will be favourites to top Group A at home. The United Arab Emirates reached the World Cup one time, in 1990, while Oman have never qualified. Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation.


Al-Ahram Weekly
6 days ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Saudi Arabia to face Indonesia and Iraq in World Cup qualifying - World
Coached by former Barcelona star and Dutch great Kluivert, Indonesia will play hosts Saudi Arabia and Iraq in Group B of the fourth round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 finals. Qatar will host Group A and face the United Arab Emirates and Oman after the six-team draw took place at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Matches in both groups will be played in a single round-robin format in October in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The two group winners will join the six Asian nations already qualified for next year's global showpiece in Mexico, the United States and Canada. The two second-placed teams will meet in November, with the winner over two legs entering an intercontinental playoff for the final spot at the 48-team World Cup. Indonesia have embarked on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and backroom staff to bolster their bid for a first World Cup finals berth since becoming an independent nation. Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, was in February appointed technical adviser to the Football Association of Indonesia to work alongside Kluivert. Indonesia last qualified for a World Cup while still under Dutch colonial rule and lost 6-0 to Hungary in their only match of that tournament, hosted by France. They will face a difficult task against Middle East giants Saudi Arabia, who have home advantage and will be heavily favoured to top Group B. The Saudis have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions including the last two editions. Iraq have only qualified once in their history, in 1986. Qatar hosted the last World Cup in 2022 on their only appearance in the finals and will be favourites to top Group A at home. The United Arab Emirates reached the World Cup one time, in 1990, while Oman have never qualified. Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:


Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Kluivert's Indonesia to face Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying
Patrick Kuivert's Indonesia were on Thursday handed a tough draw for the final round of Asian qualifying as they try to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1938. Kluivert's Indonesia to face Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying Coached by former Barcelona star and Dutch great Kluivert, Indonesia will play hosts Saudi Arabia and Iraq in Group B of the fourth round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 finals. Qatar will host Group A and face the United Arab Emirates and Oman after the six-team draw took place at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Matches in both groups will be played in a single round-robin format in October in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The two group winners will join the six Asian nations already qualified for next year's global showpiece in Mexico, the United States and Canada. The two second-placed teams will meet in November, with the winner over two legs entering an intercontinental playoff for the final spot at the 48-team World Cup. Indonesia have embarked on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and backroom staff to bolster their bid for a first World Cup finals berth since becoming an independent nation. Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, was in February appointed technical adviser to the Football Association of Indonesia to work alongside Kluivert. Indonesia last qualified for a World Cup while still under Dutch colonial rule and lost 6-0 to Hungary in their only match of that tournament, hosted by France. They will face a difficult task against Middle East giants Saudi Arabia, who have home advantage and will be heavily favoured to top Group B. The Saudis have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions including the last two editions. Iraq have only qualified once in their history, in 1986. Qatar hosted the last World Cup in 2022 on their only appearance in the finals and will be favourites to top Group A at home. The United Arab Emirates reached the World Cup one time, in 1990, while Oman have never qualified. Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation. jhe/dh This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.