Qatar Drawn with UAE and Oman in Fourth Round of World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Qatar is set to face the United Arab Emirates and Oman in the fourth round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, scheduled for October. The draw, conducted on Thursday, determined the groupings for the centralised-format play-offs.

Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia, was seeded in Pot 1 based on the FIFA rankings as of June. Both nations are also set to host matches in this round, although the exact venues are yet to be confirmed.

Placed in one group, Qatar will kick off their campaign against Oman on October 8, followed by a match against the UAE on October 14. In the other group, Saudi Arabia will compete with Iraq and Indonesia.

This round is particularly crucial for Qatar, who hosted the 2022 World Cup, as they now aim to qualify for the 2026 edition on competitive merit.

Only the top team from each group will earn direct qualification, completing Asia’s eight guaranteed spots. The second-placed teams will battle in a two-legged playoff, with the winner advancing to the inter-confederation playoff for another chance to qualify.