Qatar Beat UAE to Qualify for the 2026 World Cup

Qatar has secured its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time via qualification, following a dramatic 2–1 win over the United Arab Emirates. 

The match, held on October 14, 2025, saw Qatar emerge victorious thanks to second-half headers from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel. 

This result marked a milestone: while Qatar appeared in 2022 as hosts, it had never before advanced through qualification. 

Qatar now tops Group A in the fourth round of Asian qualifying, pushing the UAE into second place and a path through the playoff stage. Oman, the other group contender, was eliminated after finishing third. 

In the first half, Qatar’s best chance came via a header from Mohamed Al-Mannai that skimmed wide. But just two minutes into the second half, Khoukhi converted a free kick delivered by Akram Afif. Later, with 17 minutes remaining, Afif crossed from the left for Pedro Miguel to head home at the far post. 

The match grew tense when Qatar went down to 10 men in the 87th minute after a straight red card shown to Tarek Salman. Despite that, in the closing moments, UAE pulled back a goal via Sultan Adil from inside the box, but it wasn’t enough for a comeback. A draw would have been enough for the UAE to move on.

This victory is historic for Qatar: it demonstrates their emergence as a competitive force in Asian football, capable not only of hosting but earning their place on the pitch through merit.