Decisive matches for the World Cup will be held in Qatar and Saudi Arabia

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially announced the hosts of the play-offs, one of the most important stages of the 2026 World Cup qualification. According to it, the Qatar Football Association and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation will host this centralized tournament.

The following six teams that took 3rd and 4th places in the 3rd qualifying round of the World Cup will participate in this stage:
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates

They will be divided into two groups and compete in group matches from 8 to 14 October 2025. Each group will have 3 teams. The teams that take 1st place in the group will directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The main purpose of the play-offs is to provide a last chance for teams from Asia to qualify for the World Cup. The second-place teams in the remaining two groups will go through another test to get an additional chance. They will participate in a two-match play-off on November 13 and 18, 2025. The winner of that will then compete in the FIFA Intercontinental Play-off.

It is worth noting that the official draw is scheduled for July 17, 2025. It will determine which team will be placed in which group and the match schedule.

We also note as a reminder for our fans: the Uzbekistan national team successfully completed its group matches and qualified for the World Cup ahead of schedule after a 0-0 draw with the UAE on June 5.

Thus, the competition in Asia on the road to the 2026 World Cup is becoming even more intense. For each team, this is the last chance and a unique test.