In a high-stakes AFC World Cup 2026 qualifying clash on October 14, 2025, Qatar edged past the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a 2–1 win at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. The result secured Qatar’s qualification to next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada — their first ever achieved through the standard qualification route — while UAE, needing only a draw, were pushed into the playoff round. The final Group A match turned into a virtual knockout between two Gulf rivals, with direct World Cup qualification on the line. The fourth-round Group A fixture of the AFC World Cup qualifiers saw Qatar, UAE, and Oman vying for a single guaranteed berth. Coming into the match, the UAE topped the group after defeating Oman 2–1 on October 12. That result knocked

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