All photos by Mohammed Farag/The Peninsula.
Doha: For Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, Tuesday night offers a chance to fulfill a long-held national dream. For UAE’s Cosmin Olaroiu, it’s “a final” - one with the highest of stakes.
All eyes will be on the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium tonight, where regional rivals Qatar and the United Arab Emirates lock horns in a high-stakes play-off that will determine direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With emotions high and a packed stadium expected, the stage is set for one of the region’s fiercest battles in years.
The scenario is simple. Qatar, having made their World Cup debut as hosts in 2022, now stand on the brink of qualifying for the global showpiece on merit for the first time. A win tonight secures their place while the UAE, seeking their first World Cup appearance since 1990, need only a draw to progress.
Olaroiu’s side leads Group A after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Oman, while Qatar trail in second following a goalless draw with the same opponent.
The group runners-up will be forced into a longer qualification route through additional playoffs, but both teams are focused on avoiding that scenario.
There are no clear favourites going into this clash. Qatar, the reigning Asian champions, will lean on the advantage of home support and the experience of high-pressure matches.
The UAE, however, arrive full of belief, boosted by their recent win over Oman and back-to-back victories against Qatar by convincing 3-1 and 5-0 margins in the previous qualifying round.
Lopetegui, who was not in charge during those heavy defeats, will not be burdened by the past as he looks to steer Al Annabi to the global football showpiece.
“What’s happened before is history. The present and future begin tomorrow against the UAE. We’re ready and fully focused on this match,” Lopetegui said at a pre-match press conference on Monday.
“All our attention is on our team, our players and their strengths. It’s an evenly matched contest and we aim to win.”
The former Spain and Real Madrid manager acknowledged the challenge ahead against a “strong opponent with a top-level coach,” but expressed full belief in his squad’s ability.
“It will be a different kind of game. We have full confidence in ourselves and our players and we’re ready to do whatever it takes to win and qualify,” he said.
Qatar looked dominant in their opener against Oman, controlling possession and tempo, but struggled with finishing in a match where chances were few and far between. Lopetegui will be hoping his attackers show more clinical edge tonight.
“We must find solutions on the field. Our goal is clear, which is to qualify. We’ll give everything in this decisive match to achieve that. Our goal is to fulfill the dream of everyone in Qatar by qualifying for the World Cup.”
The Spanish tactician sprung some surprises in the Oman game, handing a national team debut to Al Rayyan goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada over the usual starter Meshaal Barsham. Ayoub Al Ouwi also earned his first cap.
Veteran Hassan Al Haydos, who returned from international retirement specifically for the play-offs, remained unused on the bench.
All eyes will again be on star forwards Akram Afif and Almoez Ali - both known for their flair and effectiveness in big games.
Midfield dynamo Assim Madibo, a mainstay of Qatar’s lineup, highlighted the importance of the home crowd.
“Our strength comes from our fans. We hope to feel their presence and hear their support throughout the match, just as always,” Madibo said.
“The atmosphere in the camp and in training is very positive. This match demands full concentration from everyone. We’ll do everything we can to stay focused, minimise mistakes and get the win.”
Madibo acknowledged the tactical challenge posed by the UAE.
“The UAE’s midfield is different from Oman’s, and we’re focused on executing the plan laid out by the coaching staff. Our goal is to win and qualify. This could be the most important match of our careers.”
“These 90 minutes mean World Cup qualification. We’re ready to make history.”
UAE motivated ahead of decisive clash: Olaroiu
On the other side, UAE coach Cosmin Olaroiu is equally confident that his side can rise to the occasion despite the pressure and the tight schedule.
“Matches like this carry strong motivation. We have big ambitions going into this game against Qatar and we will give everything on the pitch,” he said.
“The short turnaround between the Oman game and this one hasn’t allowed us much recovery time, unlike Qatar, who come in more rested. But this is our final match and it’s like a final. We hope to finish it in the UAE’s favour.”
Olaroiu promised a stronger showing from his players after they needed two late goals from Marcus Meloni and Caio Lucas to come from behind and beat Oman.
“I’ve followed the reactions to our match against Oman and we understand the pulse of our fans. We’ll give our maximum effort. The pressure from our supporters must be a source of motivation. We’ll need to be fully focused, especially playing in front of passionate, competitive fans. We must manage that pressure with total concentration,” said the seasoned Romanian coach.
UAE striker Ali Saleh echoed his coach’s sentiments, welcoming the expectations.
“The pressure from our fans is a motivator for us going into this decisive match against Qatar,” Saleh said.
“This game is completely different from the one against Oman. We got the win there and we’ll continue to give our best in this key match. We know it won’t be easy, but we’re determined to perform well, win and qualify.”
While the group winners tonight book a direct ticket to the World Cup, the runners-up will enter a two-legged playoff against the second-placed team from Group B, which includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia. The winners of that playoff will advance to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament, offering one final route to the 2026 World Cup.
Oman remain in contention for the runners-up spot in Group A but only if the UAE secure a two-goal win over Qatar.
