Saudi Arabia and Qatar Qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Asian Giants Secure Spots in North America 2026 World Cup – Saudi Top Group B, Qatar Clinch Victory Over UAE

In a major boost for Asian football, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the latest teams from the continent to book their tickets to the prestigious tournament.

Saudi Arabia secured qualification after a 0–0 draw against Iraq in Jeddah, finishing on top of Group B in the Asian qualifiers. Meanwhile, Qatar earned their spot with a 2–1 win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Doha.

Saudi Arabia Qualify After Goalless Draw

The Green Falcons played out a hard-fought draw against Iraq, maintaining their unbeaten run and topping Group B to confirm qualification. With this, Saudi Arabia continues its impressive record as one of Asia’s most consistent World Cup participants.

The team now aims to match or surpass their best performance — reaching the Round of 16 in the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the USA, which will also host the 2026 edition alongside Canada and Mexico.

Qatar Secure Back-to-Back World Cup Appearances

In Doha, Qatar defeated the UAE 2–1 in a thrilling encounter.Second-half headers from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel, both assisted by Akram Afif, gave Qatar a commanding lead. Though Sultan Adil pulled one back late for the UAE, it wasn’t enough to stop the defending Asian Cup champions.

This marks Qatar’s second consecutive World Cup appearance, following their debut as hosts in 2022, where they exited in the group stage.

2026 FIFA World Cup – Expanding Global Representation

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature an expanded 48-team format and will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.With Saudi Arabia and Qatar joining the list of qualified nations, Asia continues to strengthen its representation on football’s biggest stage.