Doha: Qatar reignited their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a spectacular 5-1 triumph over DPR Korea at a jubilant Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Thursday, as talismanic captain Akram Afif delivered a masterclass with one goal and three assists. The resounding victory, witnessed by a roaring home crowd draped in maroon, propelled *Al Annabi* to 10 points in Group A—level with third-placed UAE—and injected fresh momentum into their quest for automatic qualification to the global tournament in North America. From the first whistle, Qatar dominated proceedings. Afif opened the scoring in the 17th minute, slotting home a clinical finish from Mostafa Meshaal’s corner. The Al-Sadd star then turned provider, threading a pinpoint through ball to Ahmed Al Ganehi for the second goal in the 23rd minute. North Korea’s woes deepened before halftime when Kim Yu-Song inadvertently headed into his own net, gifting Qatar a commanding 3-0 lead. The second half saw no respite for the visitors. Ahmed Al Rawi hammered in Qatar’s fourth in the 56th minute, capitalizing on another Afif assist, before substitute Ahmed Alaa marked his introduction with a swift strike just four minutes after entering the pitch—courtesy of Afif’s fourth decisive contribution of the night. Though Pak Kwang-Hun’s late header denied Qatar a clean sheet, the result was never in doubt. With Iran leading Group A (19 points) and Uzbekistan securing second (16 points), Qatar’s remaining matches against Kyrgyzstan (June 4), Iran (June 9), and Uzbekistan (June 14) will decide their fate. The top two teams qualify directly for the World Cup, while third place offers a playoff lifeline. For now, however, the nation celebrates a performance that blended tactical precision, attacking flair, and unshakable national pride. North Korea (2 points) remain rooted to the bottom of the group, while Kyrgyzstan (3 points) cling to fifth place.