Qatar vs Uzbekistan

Qatar and Uzbekistan are set to trade tackles in an exciting 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

After their maiden World Cup appearance in 2022 went terribly wrong, with them losing all three group fixtures as a host nation, Qatar’s quest to secure their spot on the grandest international stage is in tatters. Except for a 3-1 home victory against Kyrgyzstan in round three, Tintin Marquez’s lads have gone winless in three other qualifying Group A matches (D1, L2), most recently slumping to a horrific 4-1 defeat at Iran. As the only side in this group to have conceded double digits (10), they should consider themselves lucky for occupying the last fourth-stage playoff spot at the start of this round. However, with only a point separating them from fifth-placed Kyrgyzstan, they could slip down the table unless they find their first win against Uzbekistan in regulation since 2014 (D1, L3 since).

Interestingly, Uzbekistan defeated Qatar twice by an identical 1-0 scoreline the last time they faced each other in World Cup qualifying in 2016 and 2017. Another similar outcome is on the cards, considering two of their three Group A victories have yielded that same full-time score (W3, D2). Moreover, barring a 3-2 win at Kyrgyzstan on matchday three, the visitors have kept a clean sheet in four other outings at this qualifying stage, most recently upsetting the United Arab Emirates 1-0 at home. But it’s hard to put it past the White Wolves to score more than once in Qatar after netting 2+ goals twice in their last three away World Cup qualifiers (W2, D1).