Qatar, Saudi Arabia qualify for 2026 World Cup

• Qatar and Saudi Arabia qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
• Qatar beat UAE 2-1; Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 with Iraq.
• This is Qatar’s first World Cup qualification through competition.
• Saudi Arabia will appear for the seventh time and host 2034.

Two Arab nations have officially booked their tickets to next year’s World Cup. Both the Qatar national football team and the Saudi Arabia national football team secured qualification on Tuesday after finishing first in their respective groups during the fourth round of Asian qualifiers.

Qatar defeated the UAE 2–1, while Saudi Arabia played to a scoreless draw with Iraq.

For Qatar, it is a historic milestone. The Gulf state, which hosted the 2022 tournament but failed to progress past the group stage, has now qualified through competition for the first time. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, will make its seventh World Cup appearance next summer in North America, and is set to host the 2034 edition.

"It's amazing, an incredible day," said Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui to beIN Sports after the match. "For me, it's one of the best days in my career. Today I think is one big achievement we have to enjoy."

Qatar’s win came after a tense battle. Mohammed Al-Mannai nearly gave the hosts the lead in the first half with a close-range header. Khoukhi broke the deadlock two minutes after the break, heading in a free kick from Akram Afif. Seventeen minutes from full time, Afif set up Pedro Miguel for the second goal. Despite being reduced to ten men after Tarek Salman’s red card, Qatar held on, conceding only once late to Sultan Adil.

The result left Qatar at the top of Group A, while the UAE now faces Iraq in a November playoff. Oman was eliminated after finishing third.

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia got the draw it needed to top Group B. Iraq, chasing a first World Cup appearance since 1986, couldn’t find the decisive goal. Saudi Arabia’s steady defense secured its qualification after its earlier win over Indonesia.

Elsewhere, both Japan and South Korea, who had already qualified, secured victories in international friendlies. Japan stunned Brazil with a 3–2 comeback win in Tokyo, sealed by Ayase Ueda’s 71st-minute header. South Korea eased past Paraguay 2–0 in Seoul.