Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Qatar Makes History, World Cup Awaits


(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Fawad Hussain | The Peninsula

Doha, Qatar: On a night charged with tension and destiny, Asian champions Qatar rose to the occasion battling past the United Arab Emirates 2-1 to clinch a historic spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - their first-ever qualification earned on the pitch.

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani congratulated the nation and the team on the win, wishing them success at the World Cup.

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani also congratulated team Qatar. "We congratulate our national team on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and we praise the outstanding performance of our brotherly Emirati team. Our national team delivered an honourable performance in the match that qualified it for this achievement. All the best to Al-Annabi in their upcoming journey," he wrote on X.

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Euphoria erupted at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium as jubilant fans and players celebrated a hard-fought victory that capped a topsy-turvy qualifying campaign on a triumphant note. Among the emotional scenes was the Personal Representative of H H the Amir, H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, congratulating players and team officials in the stands, while fans waved the national flag in celebration.

Qatar entered the must-win clash under pressure after a goalless draw against Oman last week. But under the guidance of coach Julen Lopetegui, the team delivered when it mattered most, excelling in front of a packed stadium to top Group A and progress to the global football showpiece a tense and goalless first half, captain Boualem Khoukhi opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a clinical header. Pedro Miguel doubled the lead in the 74th minute, converting another expertly delivered set-piece by Akram Afif, who was instrumental in both goals.

Substitute Tarek Salman, who came on in the 71st minute, was initially shown a yellow card that was later upgraded to red following a VAR review in the 89th minute, a late blow for Qatar.

Needing only a draw to advance, the UAE pushed hard for an equaliser, and Sultan Adil revived their hopes with a goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time, slotting home during a dramatic 15 minutes of injury time. But Qatar held firm under pressure to preserve their lead and secure a landmark qualification.

“It's time to celebrate and I congratulate all Qataris on this historic achievement,” said Khoukhi.“We really worked hard for this win and we deserved this victory.”

An emotional Afif was elated after the memorable victory.

“It's a great achievement to qualify for the World Cup. We gave our best and got the result we wanted. The credit goes to our incredible fans, who turned up in large numbers and motivated us in this crucial match,” he said.

Veteran forward Hassan Al Haydos echoed the sentiment, saying:“This is a moment we've dreamed of for a long time. It was the destiny of this generation to earn a place at the World Cup. This group is capable of achieving great things.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, expanded to 48 teams for the first time, will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Despite the defeat, Cosmin Olaroiu's UAE still have a lifeline in their World Cup campaign. As runners-up in Group A, they will now face a two-legged play-off against Iraq next month.

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