• Competition: World Cup Qualifiers Asia
• Date: Thursday, 5th, September 2024
• Kickoff: 17:00 UK / 18.00 CEST
• Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan)

Qatar will aim to kick off the final phase of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on a strong note when they host the United Arab Emirates in Thursday's action.

Having earned their first-ever appearance at the World Cup in 2022 as the host nation, Qatar will now need to push harder to ensure they qualify for the world’s biggest football competition for a second straight edition. With an outstanding 16 out of 18 points earned in the second phase, the Maroons have just 10 more qualifying hurdles to overcome to book their spot in the 2026 final tournament hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

The United Arab Emirates are still on the hunt for their first appearance on the global stage in the 21st century, with their only World Cup participation being in Italy back in 1990, where they lost all three group stage matches. Although they were prevented from closing the second phase with a flaweless record after a 1-1 draw against Bahrain following five straight victories, Paulo Bento's men will be eager to maintain their strong form in the decisive stage of the qualifiers to secure a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

Qatar vs UAE Betting Tips: QATAR TO WIN

Expect this to be one of the most intense battles on the first day of the third round of World Cup qualifying, featuring two frontrunners for the top two positions in Group A. Right now, we have more confidence in the Qatar national team, which has been delivering outstanding results recently, so we are backing them to come out on top with a close scoreline. Looking at their competitive fixtures, the Maroons have built an eye-catching 13-game streak without a loss, winning 12 of those games, adn this stellar run led them to lift the Asian Cup trophy after a routine 3-1 victory over Jordan in the final. 

On home soil, Tintin's team shines and will aim to notch up their eighth win, with strong chances given that Qatar has dominated UAE in three of the last four head-to-head encounters here, scoring 4 or more goals in each of those victories. With Qatar in such top form, it’s hard to imagine that Paulo Bento’s team can spoil the mood, especially considering that their away record provides little cause for optimism, having claimed only five wins out of 15 away matches. Certainly, the UAE will not be an easy task, but we envision that an Akram Afif-inspired Qatar will continue to enthrall their adoring supporters and make a successful start to their final qualification bid for the 2026 World Cup.