Saudi Arabia, Qatar to host 4th round of WC qualifiers
MUSCAT: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) as the hosts of the upcoming AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 Playoffs.
The teams that qualified as third and fourth place from the last stage of the Asian qualifiers — namely, Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates — will be divided into two groups, with each group comprising three teams. The six teams will compete in a centralised format from October 8 to 14, 2025. The group winners will secure the two remaining automatic berths at the Fifa World Cup 2026, while the second-placed teams from both groups will play against each other, with the winner advancing to the Fifa Play-off Tournament on November 13 and 18. The Official Draw is scheduled for July 17, 2025.
On the other hand, the Oman Football Association (OFA) announced a statement on Thursday calling for the highest standards of transparency, fairness and integrity in the organisation and administration of regional and international football competitions. This aligns with Oman's preparations for the next phase of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to the 2026 Fifa World Cup, where playoff matches will determine the remaining qualification slots in October 2025.
In its official communication, the OFA stressed the importance of applying impartial and objective criteria when selecting host nations for the upcoming AFC playoff matches. The Association emphasised the need to guarantee equal opportunities for all competing teams and to safeguard their rights without exception.
The OFA confirmed that it had submitted an official letter to both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Fifa, urging them to take clear and decisive measures that uphold competitive integrity and prevent any biased or unbalanced decision-making in the hosting process.
The statement reiterated the OFA's belief in fair play and merit-based competition, calling on football's governing bodies to ensure the application of transparent procedures that reflect the spirit of the game and enhance the credibility of the qualification process.
'The OFA stands firmly for fairness and justice in football,' the statement concluded, expressing hope that the relevant authorities will respond with actions that strengthen confidence in the upcoming matches and contribute to the success of the global event.
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