The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has announced that Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium will host Qatar’s opening match against the UAE on September 5 in the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Qatar, the 2023 AFC Asian Cup champions, will be playing in Group A alongside Iran, Uzbekistan, the UAE, Kyrgyz Republic, and North Korea. The team will be playing a series of matches, both home and away, to secure their spot in the World Cup.
Under the leadership of Spanish coach Bartolome Marquez Lopez, Qatar will face tough competition in the upcoming matches. After their opening match against the UAE, they will play against North Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, and Iran, before concluding the first round of group matches against Uzbekistan in Doha on November 14. The team will then move on to the second round of matches, starting with an away game against the UAE on November 19, followed by matches against North Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Iran, and Uzbekistan.
Qatar has already secured their place in the third and final round of the World Cup qualifiers and also qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. They finished on top of their group with an impressive 16 points from five wins and one draw. The top two teams from each group in the qualifiers will directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup, securing six of the eight direct spots available to the Asian Football Confederation.
The remaining teams finishing third and fourth in the qualifiers will enter the Asian playoff, where matches will be played in a single round-robin format. The top team from each group in the playoff will advance to the World Cup. The teams finishing second in the playoff will face each other in a two-legged playoff to determine the team advancing to the intercontinental playoff. Qatar will be aiming to secure one of the direct spots in the World Cup and continue their success in international competitions.
In addition to the World Cup qualifiers, Qatar will also be preparing for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia. The team will be looking to build on their success in the Asian Cup and continue their strong performance on the international stage. With the support of their fans and the guidance of their coach, Qatar will be aiming for a strong showing in both the World Cup qualifiers and the upcoming Asian Cup. Fans can expect exciting matches and fierce competition as Qatar competes for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
