Asian Capitals: Six national teams from Asia are gearing up for the start of the continental playoff stage in the race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The group stage of the Asian playoff is scheduled to begin on October 8.
The teams have been divided into two groups: Group A features Qatar, the UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia. The winner of each group will earn direct qualification to the World Cup, joining six other Asian teams that have already secured their spots.
Matches will be played in a single round-robin format at centralized venues. The Qatar Football Association will host Group A fixtures, while Group B matches will be held under the Saudi Football Federation.
Asian champions Qatar are aiming for their second World Cup appearance following their debut as hosts in 2022. Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui hopes to emulate the success of compatriot Felix Sanchez, who led Qatar in their first World Cup campaign.
Saudi Arabia, under French manager Hervé Renard, is targeting a third consecutive World Cup appearance and seventh overall. Oman, meanwhile, is chasing a historic first-ever qualification, while Iraq, the UAE, and Indonesia are each seeking a second appearance on football’s biggest stage.
The opening match on October 8 will see 53rd-ranked Qatar face 78th-ranked Oman at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium at 6PM local time.
Qatar will be looking to make a strong start in their 11th qualification campaign, while Oman, led by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, will draw confidence from their 2-1 victory over Qatar in the 2023 Gulf Cup, Oman's first win in 11 meetings since 2009.
On October 11, the UAE (ranked 67th) will take on Oman in a rematch of their 2024 Gulf Cup clash, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The UAE is making its 11th attempt to return to the World Cup, having last qualified in 1990.
Group B action kicks off at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, where Saudi Arabia (ranked 59th) will face Indonesia (ranked 119th) on October 8. The Saudis are looking to avenge their earlier loss to Indonesia and secure a seventh World Cup berth.
Indonesia, the only team to begin its campaign from the first round, is seeking a return to the World Cup for the first time since 1938, when it competed as the Dutch East Indies. In the previous round, Indonesia earned a historic win over Saudi Arabia after a draw in the first leg.
Iraq (ranked 58th) will play its first match on October 11 against Indonesia, aiming to qualify for the World Cup for the second time, having last appeared in 1986. Iraq boasts a strong record against Indonesia, winning their last eight encounters, including both matches in the second round of qualifying.
The group stage concludes on October 14 with two key matchups: Qatar vs. UAE and Saudi Arabia vs. Iraq.
The runners-up from each group will have one final chance to qualify through a two-legged playoff on November 13 and 18. The winner will represent Asia in the intercontinental playoff, competing for one of the final two spots at the 2026 World Cup.
