The race for the remaining Asian places at the FIFA World Cup 2026 reaches a decisive phase this week, with only six teams still in contention. The qualifying series resumes on Wednesday, with two direct slots up for grabs.
The teams have been split into two groups of three, and only the winner of each group will secure automatic qualification. Six other Asian nations have already booked their place at next year’s tournament.
All matches will be played at neutral centralised venues. Group A fixtures will be hosted by the Qatar Football Association, while the Saudi Arabian Football Federation will stage Group B.
Teams Chasing History — and Return Tickets
Oman are the only side seeking a first-ever World Cup appearance. Indonesia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are each aiming to qualify for a second time, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia are targeting successive appearances after featuring at Qatar 2022.
Group A (Hosted in Qatar)
The opening fixture takes place on Wednesday at 6pm at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, where Qatar (FIFA Rank: 53) face Oman (Rank: 78).
Oman, entering their 10th World Cup qualification campaign, are hoping for a breakthrough after earning a confidence-boosting 2-1 win over Qatar in the Gulf Cup in December 2024 — their first victory over the hosts since 2009.
Qatar, the reigning AFC Asian Cup champions, are competing in their 11th qualifying campaign and aiming to reach the finals for a second time, having participated as hosts in 2022.
The UAE (Rank: 67) open their campaign against Oman on 11 October at 8.15pm. Their last meeting also ended 1-1 in the Gulf Cup. The Emiratis, in their 11th qualifying stint, are seeking their first World Cup appearance since their debut in 1990.
Group B (Hosted in Saudi Arabia)
Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium will host Group B action, starting on 8 October at 8.15pm as Saudi Arabia (Rank: 59) take on Indonesia (Rank: 119).
Indonesia are the only team in this stage who began their journey in Round 1. Their only previous World Cup appearance was in 1938, when they competed as the Dutch East Indies. They faced Saudi Arabia earlier in the qualifiers, drawing once and securing a first-ever win in the return leg.
Saudi Arabia, seeking a third consecutive World Cup appearance and seventh overall, will be out to respond and take control of the group.
Iraq (Rank: 58) enter the stage on 11 October at 10.30pm when they face Indonesia. Iraq are pushing for a second World Cup appearance and their first since 1986. They hold a dominant record over Indonesia, having won all of their last eight meetings, including both matches in the previous qualifying round.
Final Fixtures and What Comes Next
The last round of group matches will be held on 14 October:
- Qatar vs UAE – 8.15pm
- Saudi Arabia vs Iraq – 10.30pm
Only the two group winners will qualify automatically for FIFA World Cup 2026.
The two runners-up will still have one final chance. They will meet in a two-legged playoff on 13 and 18 November. The winner of that tie will advance to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament, where they must compete against teams from other confederations for one of two remaining global berths.
