Doha: Qatar, the Maroons, have booked their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, after a well-deserved 2–1 victory over the United Arab Emirates at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. The thrilling match marked the conclusion of the Asian playoff’s third and final round in Group A on the road to the World Cup.

This marks Qatar’s first-ever qualification through competition and their second consecutive appearance at the World Cup, following their historic hosting of the 2022 edition. With this result, Qatar topped Group A with four points, securing direct qualification to the finals. The UAE finished second with three points and will now face the runner-up of Group B in the knockout stage for a place in the global playoff, while Oman came third with two points.

The match began cautiously, with both sides locked in a goalless draw at halftime. The tempo rose sharply after the break, as Qatar struck twice in quick succession through Boualem Khoukhi (49') and Pedro Miguel (74'), igniting the crowd and putting the Maroons firmly on course for qualification. The UAE pulled one back through Sultan Adel deep into stoppage time (90+8), after Qatar had been reduced to ten men following Tarek Salman’s red card in the 89th minute. The referee added fifteen minutes of stoppage time, but Qatar’s resilient defense and goalkeeper Abu Nadda’s heroics preserved the lead.

Despite relentless Emirati pressure, the Maroons stood firm, displaying composure, discipline, and determination. Their grit and unity carried them through the tense final moments, earning a well-deserved qualification and sparking celebrations among the home fans who packed the stands of Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

In Group A, only the top team secures automatic qualification to the World Cup, while the runners-up advance to an Asian playoff to determine the team that will move on to the intercontinental playoff. Earlier in the round, Oman and Qatar had played out a goalless draw, while the UAE defeated Oman 2–1 in the second match.