The UAE national football team will be facing tough competition in Group A of Asia’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Iran, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea. The third round of qualifiers will begin on September 5 and run until June 10, with 18 Asian teams competing for eight World Cup spots. The teams have been divided into three groups of six each, with the winners and runners-up in each group qualifying automatically for the finals in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
The UAE, who are seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1990, showed impressive form in the second round of qualifiers by finishing on top of Group H with 16 points from six matches. Head coach Paulo Bento’s team will kick off their third phase of qualifiers against Iran on September 10. While Iran aims for their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, Qatar is looking to qualify for the tournament for the first time, having won the Asian Cup title twice.
The draw for the third round of qualifiers also placed Japan in a challenging group alongside Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, and Indonesia. Japan, who have qualified for the last seven World Cup tournaments, will face familiar opponents in Saudi Arabia and Australia, whom they encountered in the 2022 qualifiers. South Korea, on the other hand, will compete against Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait in Group B, with expectations of advancing to the next stage of qualifiers.
The Chinese team faces a tough task to secure a spot in their first World Cup since 2002, as they have only made one appearance in the tournament. Meanwhile, Korea will be considered favorites to progress from Group B, despite facing a challenge from Jordan, who defeated them in the Asian Cup semifinals earlier this year. The upcoming World Cup qualifiers promise exciting matches and intense competition as teams aim to secure their place in the prestigious tournament. With the stakes high and the competition fierce, football fans can expect thrilling clashes between some of Asia’s top teams.
