Latest news with #AsianQualifiers
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Oman Football team drawn with Qatar, UAE in Asian World Cup qualifiers playoff
Kuala Lumpur: The draw for the fourth round of the Asian World Cup 2026 qualifiers, held at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today, placed Oman Football Team alongside the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar in Group 1. Qatar will host the group's matches in a single round-robin format, with games taking place between 8 and 14 October 2025. The six teams were split into two groups, with the group winners securing direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining six Asian teams that have already booked their spots. The runners-up from both groups will face off in a two-legged playoff on 13 and 18 November 2025, with the winner advancing to the intercontinental playoff for an additional World Cup berth. An additional draw was held to determine the host for the first leg of the runners-up playoff, with the Group 1 runner-up set to host the opening match.
Qatar Tribune
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar's Ibrahim Al Hasan makes AFC's Future Stars list
QNA Kuala Lumpur The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has selected 11 young players who shone with their national teams during the 3rd round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among those players is Qatar's Ibrahim Al Hassan. The AFC invited fans to vote for their top star. The AFC published a report on its official website on Tuesday, giving fans the opportunity to vote for the future star among the young players who participated with their national teams in the third round of the World Cup qualifiers. The report highlighted the remarkable performance of Qatar team player Ibrahim Al Hassan, who scored his first international goal with the national team against the UAE in the first round of the third round of the qualifiers, in addition to his contribution to the victory over Kyrgyzstan when he came on as a substitute and scored a goal in the third round. The 19-year-old Al Hassan will compete with a number of players who have promising futures with their national teams, including Saudi Arabia's Musab Al Juwayr (22 years old), Abdukodir Khusanov (21 years old), who became the first player from Uzbekistan to play professionally in the English Premier League with Manchester City, Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki (22 years old), Indonesian center-back Justin Hubner (21 years old), and other players who caught the eye during their participation with their national teams in the final stage of World Cup qualifiers. Team Qatar has qualified for the fourth round of the World Cup qualifiers, after finishing fourth in Group A of the third round of the qualifiers. The fourth stage will feature six teams that finished third and fourth in the third round of the Asian qualifiers, including Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The AFC previously selected Qatar and Saudi Arabia to host the fourth round matches, which will be held from Oct. 8-14, 2025. The draw will take place on July 17, with the six teams divided into two groups of three, each competing in a pool format. The top team in each group will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup.
Free Malaysia Today
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Uzbekistan coach says historic World Cup spot for ‘our entire people'
Uzbekistan's coach Timur Kapadze (left) celebrates with his players after the match against UAE at Al Nahyan stadium. (Uzbekistan FA pic) ABU DHABI : Uzbekistan's coach said 'this victory belongs to all of us' after steering the Central Asian nation to the World Cup for the first time in their history. A 0-0 draw at the United Arab Emirates on Thursday was enough to seal the landmark with a game to go in Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in North America. The expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams has given traditional outsiders such as Uzbekistan the chance to break into the top ranks of world football. 'We have come a long way and achieved an important result,' their coach Timur Kapadze said, according to the Asian Football Confederation. 'We congratulate our entire people and our president. This victory belongs to all of us. 'Yesterday and today the phone calls have not stopped.' Uzbekistan started competing as an independent nation in the 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Backed by state funding, Uzbekistan are one of Asia's fastest-developing footballing nations. They are ranked 57th in the world. 'Everyone said they would support us and pray for us, the wishes for victory were a great inspiration for us,' said Kapadze, who replaced Srecko Katanec as head coach in January. AdChoices ADVERTISING 'My players showed determination in every game, they did their best, and that is why we achieved the result.' Footage shared on social media showed the players, draped in national flags, mobbing Kapadze in the press room after getting the point they needed. Uzbekistan are second behind also qualified Iran in Group A with five wins, three draws and one defeat. They play their final qualifier on Tuesday home to Qatar in the capital Tashkent.
Arab News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia and Qatar to host football World Cup playoffs
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Qatar will host the Asian qualifying playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, the Asian Football Confederation said on Friday. The third and fourth-placed teams from the qualifiers that ended last week — Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar and the UAE — will form two groups of three teams and play from Oct. 8 to 14. The draw will take place on July 17. Group winners will take the two remaining automatic places at the World Cup finals in the US, Canada and Mexico. The runners-up from each group will play two matches on Nov. 13 and 18, with the winners qualifying for the inter-confederation playoffs Meanwhile this year's Saudi Super Cup featuring Al-Ittihad, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr will be held in Hong Kong, football chiefs said on Friday. Matches will take place from Aug. 19-23 at the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium. 'This represents a qualitative shift for the tournament, which has achieved remarkable success,' Saudi Football Federation secretary general Ibrahim Al-Qassim said.
Malay Mail
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Saudi Arabia and Qatar to host Asian playoffs for 2026 World Cup as six teams battle for final spots
KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Saudi Arabia and Qatar will host the Asian qualifying playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said today. Six teams, the third and fourth-placed sides from the recent Asian qualifiers, namely Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, will be divided into two groups of three teams. They will battle each other in a centralised format from October 8 to 14, 2025, the AFC said in a statement. The group winners will secure the two remaining automatic berths at the World Cup. The draw for the next round is scheduled for July 17. The runners-up from each group will play two matches on November 13 and 18, with the winners qualifying for the inter-confederation playoffs for the World Cup. Asian federations had requested that the Asian playoff matches be held on neutral ground. — AFP
