After a 2-1 loss to Qatar, the UAE has missed out on direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, their hopes are not entirely dashed, as they now face a crucial playoff route to secure a place in the global tournament, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The Playoff Path Ahead
The UAE finished second in their AFC fourth-round qualification group, narrowly behind Qatar. As a result, the team will now face Iraq in a two-legged playoff, scheduled for November 2025. The first match will take place at home on November 13, followed by the away leg in Iraq on November 18. The winner of this matchup will advance to the next stage: the Intercontinental Playoffs.
Iraq, like the UAE, finished as runners-up in their respective qualification group, with Saudi Arabia topping the table and securing a direct World Cup spot. The winner of the UAE-Iraq playoff will proceed to the final stage of the qualification process, where they will compete for one of the last two places in the 2026 World Cup.
The Intercontinental Playoffs
The Intercontinental Playoffs, set for March 2026, will feature six teams from different regions:
- Two teams from CONCACAF (North and Central America)
- One from AFC (Asia)
- One from CAF (Africa)
- One from CONMEBOL (South America)
- One from OFC (Oceania)
The playoff matches will take place between March 23 and March 31, 2026. The four lowest-ranked teams in the FIFA World Rankings will compete in semi-finals, while the two highest-ranked teams will go straight to the finals. The two winners of these final matches will qualify for the World Cup.
Current Playoff Landscape
Here’s how the picture for the intercontinental playoffs currently looks:
- New Caledonia: Qualified as Oceania’s representative.
- Bolivia: Earned their spot after finishing seventh in the South American qualifiers.
- UAE: Will face Iraq in November 2025, with the winner moving on to the Intercontinental Playoffs.
- Iraq: The other second-place finisher, set to play the UAE in the two-legged playoff.
- DR Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, and Nigeria: These African teams will play a mini playoff in November 2025, with the winner earning a spot in the Intercontinental Playoffs.
Additionally, two spots in the final playoff will be filled by the best runners-up from the final round of qualifiers.
The Road Ahead for the UAE
The UAE’s path to the 2026 World Cup remains challenging but achievable. To secure their spot, the team must first overcome Iraq in the November playoffs. If successful, they will advance to the Intercontinental Playoffs in March 2026. There, they must win two further matches to book a historic place at the World Cup.
Despite the pain of the loss to Qatar, the UAE’s dream of competing at the World Cup is still alive. The team’s focus now turns to the critical playoff matches ahead, with everything to play for.
For more updates on the UAE’s journey, you can read this article on their defeat to Qatar or check out highlights from the recent qualifier.
