Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been granted significant advantages in the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from their competitors. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) designated the two nations as hosts for their respective final qualifying groups, a move announced in June without public explanation of the selection criteria.
This decision has placed the other four contenders—Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates—at a perceived disadvantage. These nations had reportedly expressed interest in hosting the matches themselves or requested neutral venues, advocating for greater transparency in the process. Their appeals, however, were unsuccessful.
Beyond the home-field advantage, a scheduling discrepancy has further fueled the controversy. Both host nations will enjoy six days of rest between their two crucial matches. In contrast, their opponents are required to play their second match just 72 hours after their first, a significant disparity in recovery time.
The situation in Group A has drawn particular attention. Oman’s national team coach, Carlos Queiroz, has been vocal in his criticism. He questioned the logic of granting Qatar home advantage, suggesting that neutral venues in countries like Japan or Kuwait were viable alternatives. “It would be a miracle in this complicated situation,” Queiroz stated, implying the setup complicates his team’s historic bid to reach a first World Cup.
The scheduling imbalance was another point of contention highlighted by the experienced coach. “We play Qatar and we play again three days later. Qatar plays six days after, and they already know the result and what they need to do,” Queiroz noted. He contrasted this with a traditional World Cup host scenario, stating that awarding such advantages mid-competition is “strange.”
Geopolitical tensions have also surfaced. Indonesia formally protested the appointment of a Kuwaiti official to referee their match against Saudi Arabia, requesting a referee from outside the region to ensure neutrality. The Indonesian football association also reported the unexplained cancellation of a planned friendly against Kuwait.
The final stage of Asian qualification features a notable lineup of coaches, including Julen Lopetegui for Qatar and Hervé Renard for Saudi Arabia. With six Asian teams—Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Uzbekistan, and Jordan—having already secured their places in the 2026 World Cup, the focus is now on the two remaining spots, for which Saudi Arabia and Qatar are now considered strong favorites.
