Twice Asian champions Qatar delivered a night to remember at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday, defeating the United Arab Emirates 2–1 to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their first ever achieved on merit
After hosting the 2022 tournament, this qualification marks a landmark moment for Qatari football, underscoring the nation’s rise under coach Julen Lopetegui.
Afif’s Magic Lights Up Doha
The hero of the night was none other than Akram Afif, the reigning AFC Player of the Year, who produced two moments of brilliance to unlock the UAE defence.
Afif delivered inch-perfect free kicks in the 49th and 74th minutes, both met by powerful headers — the first from Boualem Khoukhi, the second from Pedro Miguel — that sent the home crowd into raptures.
Today was the day we were looking forward to!. We were born for this day. Praise be to God Almighty — congratulations to our fans.
Lopetegui: ‘A Great Achievement for Qatar’
After the match, Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui hailed his side’s composure and spirit in what he called one of the toughest games of the campaign.
It was a very difficult match. We faced a strong and well-prepared team, the UAE. I congratulate everyone on qualifying in a match that we were able to manage well with the players and the team. Yes, this is the first time we have qualified, and this is a great achievement for us. We are happy to qualify and participate in the next World Cup.
"The first half was balanced. We wanted to score, and we achieved that early in the second half. We had to give our best in the match. I thank the players and the fans. Everyone did what was necessary. We overcame a difficult stage, qualified, and made our fans happy.”
The Spaniard’s words reflected both relief and pride after Qatar held firm despite late pressure.
A Tense Finish After Salman’s Red Card
Qatar appeared to be cruising after going 2–0 up, but tension rose late when Tarek Salman was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Erik. Deep into stoppage time, Sultan Adil Al Amiri pulled one back for the UAE in the 90+8th minute, setting up a nervy finale.
Despite 15 minutes of added time, the hosts held their nerve to seal a famous victory and spark celebrations across Doha.
Qatar Start Bright, UAE Threaten Early
Needing a win to qualify, Qatar came out firing. Sultan Al Brake tested UAE goalkeeper Khaled Eissa early on, while Ayoub Al Ouwi flashed a rebound across the goal.
At the other end, UAE’s Lucas Pimenta came close in the 15th minute, his header just missing the post, while Edmilson Junior nearly connected with an Afif cross in a frenetic first half.
It wasn’t until after the break that Qatar broke the deadlock, Afif’s pinpoint delivery finding Khoukhi’s head to ignite the celebrations. Twenty-five minutes later, the same script repeated — another Afif free kick, another towering header — this time from Pedro Miguel.
Olaroiu: ‘Football Can Be Unfair Sometimes’
UAE coach Cosmin Olaroiu admitted disappointment but praised his players’ fight, noting that his side had done enough to push the hosts to the limit.
We controlled the match and put pressure on our opponents, but in the second half, we conceded an early goal. Football can be unfair sometimes, and now we have to move on to the next phase. We will strive to come back stronger and improve our chances.
“There were 15 minutes of stoppage time, and we could have equalised, although the second goal killed the game. We scored, but the game was stopped frequently. It's unfortunate to have reached this point. We have to fight for our chance and learn from our mistakes moving forward.”
Voices of Triumph
A jubilant Boualem Khoukhi said after the match:“It’s time to celebrate. We really worked hard for this win — and we deserved it.”
Veteran forward Hassan Al Haydos, who has been at the heart of Qatar’s footballing evolution, reflected on the team’s achievement: “This is a moment we’ve dreamed of for a long time. It was destiny for this generation to earn a place at the World Cup. This group is capable of great things.”
What’s Next
While Qatar celebrate a milestone moment, the UAE will now face a two-legged playoff next month against the Group B runner-up, with the winner advancing to the FIFA Playoff Tournament in March.
For Lopetegui’s men, though, history has already been made — and the roar at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium will echo long into Qatar’s footballing future.
