The Qatari national team secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, defeating the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in the final round of Group A in the Asian playoff, held in Doha.
Boualem Khoukhi opened the scoring for Qatar in the 49th minute, and Pedro Miguel extended the lead with a second goal in the 74th minute.
Sultan Adel pulled one back for the UAE in the eighth minute of stoppage time, but there was not enough time for his team to equalize. Qatar’s victory ensured they topped Group A with 4 points.
This marks the second time Qatar has qualified for the World Cup finals, following their appearance as hosts in 2022.
For the UAE, another opportunity in the playoff will be needed to reach the World Cup finals for only the second time in their history, after their 1990 qualification.
