Qatar's World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Unbeaten Start Sets the Stage for Asia's Final Battle
8 October 2025
Qatar's national team is riding a strong start in the World Cup 2026 Asia qualifiers, leading their group without a defeat and gearing up for the final rounds. They made their World Cup debut in the last edition after hosting the tournament, but failed to advance beyond the group stage. With ambitions tuned, the team also eyes a place in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup by topping their pool. Below is a concise guide to Qatar's journey in Asia's qualifiers.
Format of the 2026 World Cup Asia Qualifiers
The Asian qualifying competition for 2026 is staged in four rounds and features 46 nations. Round 1 hosts the bottom 20 teams in FIFA rankings in home-and-away ties, with 10 winners advancing to Round 2.
Round 2 adds the higher-ranked 26 teams into nine groups. The group winners and runners-up progress to Round 3, with the top two per group advancing and securing spots in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup as well.
Round 3 consolidates to 18 teams split into three groups. The top two from each group advance to the World Cup, while the remaining teams move into Round 4 for a final shot.
Round 4 involves the teams finishing third and fourth in Round 3's groups. They are divided into two groups; the winners of those groups go to the World Cup directly, while the runners-up face a global playoff to reach the tournament.
Broadcasting Qatar's qualifiers
Qatar's matches in the 2026 Asia qualifiers are broadcast on beIN Sports HD channels and on Al Kass, ensuring fans can follow every kick live across the region.
Qatar's Fourth Round schedule and standings
The Fourth Round schedule shows Qatar facing Oman on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 18:00 local time (Saudi) and 19:00 in the UAE, at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
Qatar's next fixture is against the UAE on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 20:15 local (Saudi) / 21:15 (UAE) at the same venue.
In the Fourth Round group standings, Qatar sits top after the opening matchday with a single point from a 0-0 draw, while Oman occupies a position near the top and other rivals chase the pace. The table will update as results roll in and the drama unfolds, preferably with fewer reds and more goals for our entertainment.
Looking back at Round 3 (the 2024-2025 window), Qatar produced a mixed run: a 3-1 win over UAE, a 2-2 draw with North Korea, a 1-3 loss to Kyrgyzstan, a 1-4 defeat to Iran, a 2-3 loss to Uzbekistan, and a 0-5 setback to UAE in one fixture. The campaign left Qatar in the fourth position in that stage with 13 points from 10 matches.
In Round 2, Qatar dominated the group with 6 matches played, 5 wins and 1 draw, totaling 16 points, scoring 18 and conceding 3. They topped the standings ahead of Kuwait, Afghanistan, and India.
In Round 1, Qatar faced Afghanistan, India, and Kuwait, with results including a crushing win over Afghanistan and other outcomes that set the stage for progression into Round 2.
As the group heads into the final rounds, all eyes are on whether Qatar can convert this momentum into a direct World Cup berth or a place in the intercontinental playoff, with supporters hoping for a memorable run and a few more moments to savor on the road to 2026. And yes, if football ever needed a timeout, it’s now—time to caffeinate the squad and let the goals do the talking.
Punchline time: If defending is a crime, Qatar just filed for a stay of execution—we’re barely halfway through and they’re already drafting the sequel. And if you think that’s funny, remember: in football, the ball is round, the pitch is square, and the coffee is always strong enough to wake the referee from a nap. Sniper humor: I don’t always watch qualifiers, but when I do, I prefer them undefeated—wait, wrong meme. Still, may the goals be plentiful and the jokes mercifully light.
