Qatar secured a landmark 2–1 victory over the United Arab Emirates to book their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking their first-ever qualification on merit for the global football showpiece.
Having debuted as hosts in the 2022 edition, Qatar faced a must-win scenario to punch their ticket to North America—and they rose to the occasion in a high-stakes clash at the packed Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Under the guidance of head coach Julen Lopetegui, Qatar delivered a composed and decisive performance to the delight of their home fans.
After a goalless yet gripping first half, captain Boualem Khoukhi broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a precise header. Pedro Miguel then doubled the lead in the 74th minute, converting another brilliantly delivered set piece from Akram Afif, who was instrumental in both goals.
Tarek Salman, who came off the bench in the 71st minute, was shown a yellow card that was later upgraded to red following a VAR review in the 89th minute—a late setback for Qatar.
Needing only a draw to advance, the UAE pushed hard for a comeback. Sultan Adil reignited their hopes with a goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time, finishing from a Fabio Lima assist during a dramatic 15 minutes of injury time.
However, Qatar held firm under pressure to preserve their lead and secure historic qualification.
Despite the defeat, Cosmin Olaroiu’s UAE side still have a lifeline in their World Cup quest. As runners-up in Group A, they will now face a two-legged play-off against either Saudi Arabia or Iraq. The winner of that tie will advance to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament—a final opportunity to qualify for the 2026 finals.