5 days ago
Qatar drawn with UAE and Oman for Playoffs of Asian qualifying for FIFA World Cup 2026
tnn/Agencies
Kuala Lumpur
Al Annabi have been drawn along side the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman for the Playoffs of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2026.
The six-team draw was held at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Qatar will also play host to Group A with matches against UAE and Oman to be played the in a single round-robin format scheduled for October 8 to 14 in the fourth round at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
The group toppers will book ticket next year's global showpiece in the USA, Canada and Mexico while the second-placed teams from both groups will square off in a two-legged showdown across November 13 and 18. This knockout stage will determine the Continent's representative at the FIFA Playoff Tournament, which offers one final qualifying opportunity.
Qatar, being coached by SpaniardJulen Lopetegui, are currently training in Austria, aiming to qualify for the FIFA World Cup on merit after having made their debut as hosts in 2022, advanced to the playoffs after finishing fourth in Group A of the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.
UAE, seeking a second appearance at the Finals following their debut in the 1990 edition, finished third in Group A while Oman - hoping for a debut appearance at the global showpiece - finished fourth in Group B.
Oman, under the guidance of newly-appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz, are the only side hunting a historic maiden FIFA World Cup appearance.
On the other side, Patrick Kuivert's Indonesia got a tough draw 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.
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.
A draw was also held to determine the host team of the knockout stage, with the Group A runners-up to host the first leg.
Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation.
Draw Result (Matches to be played between Oct 8 and 14)
Group A: Qatar (H), UAE, Oman
Group B: Saudi Arabia (H), Iraq, Indonesia
Knockout Stage
13 Nov 1st legcTypeface:> Runners-up Group A v Runners-up
Group B 18 Nov 2nd leg: Runners-up Group B v Runners-up Group A
