October 15 – Saudi Arabia and Qatar will fill the AFC’s two remaining automatic qualification spots for the 2026 World Cup after topping their groups in the eventual winner’s all draw against Iraq and the UAE.
There were 60,000 Saudi fans rooting for their country at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, knowing that a draw or a win would be enough to qualify them for a third consecutive World Cup final and seventh overall.
In the end, a 0-0 draw was enough to see the Saudi through, who, despite being level with Iraq on points and goal difference, had scored more times.
Saudi Arabia dominated the match with wave after wave of attacks and were almost made to rue their squandered chances when Hassan Abdulkareem’s curling free-kick was saved deep into stoppage time by Nawaf Al Aqidi who dived to his right to keep the ball out.
“I expected a lot of people, but the atmosphere was fantastic,” said Saudi coach Herve Renard. “They pushed the players. Although Salem (Al Dawsari) got man of the match, I think it was the fans tonight.
“It wasn’t easy a few months ago, but we did it and this is the most important thing.”
Qatar gets the job done
Qatar went into their final group match in Doha knowing only a win would see them through. The UAE only needed a draw to qualify.
With the match scoreless at half-time, it would take a world-class moment to unlock the game and almost inevitably it was delivered by Qatar’s talisman Akram Afif, currently the reigning Asian Player of the Year and the odds-on favorite to retain that title if this performance could be leveraged ahead of tonight’s awards ceremony.
Four minutes after the restart, Edmilson Junior was fouled, giving the Qataris a free-kick in a dangerous area on the right. Afif bent his ball with pinpoint accuracy towards central defender Boulame Khouki, who headed home the lead.
At the 74e minute Qatar doubled their lead and it was Afif who was the giver again, this time delivering a perfect free kick for Pedro Miguel to head in via the far post.
The UAE pulled one back in the 8e minute of extra time, but it was too little too late.
The UAE go into a two-legged play-off against Iraq next month. The winners of that match will then participate in the FIFA Playoff tournament in March.
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