UAE Drawn in Group A for 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers

Kuala Lumpur, The Gulf Observer: The draw for the third round of the final Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 placed the UAE national football team in Group A. The group, which promises to be highly competitive, includes Iran, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea.

The draw took place on Thursday in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, attended by representatives of the participating teams.

In Group B, the Republic of Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait will compete for a spot in the World Cup. Meanwhile, Group C features Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, and Indonesia.

The final and decisive round of qualifiers is scheduled to be held from September 5, 2024, to June 10, 2025.

During the draw, 18 teams were divided into three groups of six teams each. The top two teams from each group will directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup, securing six of the eight spots allocated to the Asian Football Confederation. The remaining two spots will be decided through the Asian play-offs, with an additional possibility to secure one more spot through the global play-off.

The upcoming qualifiers are expected to be fiercely contested, with each team vying for a coveted place in the prestigious tournament.