Qatar Clinches Direct World Cup 2026 Qualification as UAE Headed to the Playoff
Qatar beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 to seal direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. They topped Group A with four points, following a 0-0 opener with Oman. UAE finish second and advance to a November playoff for a shot at the global route, while Oman exit with one point. The match delivered late drama, including a red card for a Qatar player and a stoppage-time UAE reply that wasn’t enough to change the result.