AFC Teams Hoping to Make an Impact at the 2026 World Cup
With the third round of the AFC World Cup 2026 qualifiers drawing closer to a conclusion, all eyes are on some of the Middle Eastern and Asian powerhouses. Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar are among the teams bidding to book one of the eight spots available to Asian teams at the showpiece in North America.
Iran – The Consistent Contenders
Iran have qualified for the World Cup six times. They are one of the AFC’s strongest performers and will be eager to record a fourth consecutive outing on the grand stage. If the qualifying table is anything to go by, Iran should be competing in North America next year. They have been dominant, clearing the first two hurdles to arrive at this stage. They have secured five wins from six games (D1), defeating Qatar, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea and the UAE to sit at the summit of their group. Attacking duo Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi are the protagonists for Iran. They will hope to spearhead Iran beyond the group stage at the World Cup for the first time. Iran are the bookmakers’ favourites to qualify. They will hope for a favourable group stage draw and could be a good bet to at least reach the last-32. Plenty of bettors will be willing to wager on Iran make it to the knockout stage at the tournament on international football betting sites for Arabic players.
Saudi Arabia – A Team at a Crossroads
Saudi Arabia were tipped by the bookies to make light work of qualification but have recorded only one win (D3, L2) to sit in fourth place in their group. Roberto Mancini never quite got going as Saudi Arabia manager and was dismissed in October, with the Green Falcons opting to bring back Herve Renard. The Frenchman was in charge of Saudi Arabia between 2019 and 2023, leading the team to that famous victory over eventual champions Argentina in 2022. However, he faces a monumental task to salvage the sinking ship. Renard has been in charge of two qualifying matches and failed to win both. While they claimed an impressive draw versus Australia in his first match, they lost to Indonesia before being knocked out of the Gulf Cup by Oman. Saudi Arabia are in trouble and need results to avoid missing out on the most prestigious tournament in football. Whether they can arrest this slump and pull off a miracle remains to be seen.
UAE – Momentum on the Rise
The UAE look a different beast under head coach Paolo Bento and could finally secure a slot at the World Cup for the first time since 1990. Impressive victories over Qatar and Kyrgyzstan showcased their improvement and kept their qualifications hopes alive. Fabio De Lima has been dynamic for them. The 31-year-old could lead the UAE back onto the grand stage after over three decades away. However, they must take second place from Uzbekistan, which will not be easy. With their current momentum, they can dream of automatic qualification even though passage through fourth-round play-off is more likely. The UAE’s inexperience may prove to be a hindrance if they qualify for the tournament, but their attacking style could upset the odds against some opponents.
Qatar – A Rocky Road Ahead
Qatar enjoyed the luxury of automatically qualifying for the World Cup in 2022 due to being hosts. However, they are now tussling with their AFC rivals for a place at the showpiece next year. Their results in the third round have not been encouraging (W2, D1, L3). The Maroons have shipped 17 goals in six games and need to defend better. Akram Afif is Qatar’s standout player, but the team’s inconsistency raises concerns. With North Korea and Kyrgyzstan next on the agenda in March 2025, Qatar must capitalise to keep their hopes alive. Qatar’s experience from hosting the previous World Cup would be invaluable if they qualify. However, they must build a more cohesive unit to make a meaningful impact. Head coach Luis Garcia is still waiting for his first victory after replacing Tintin Marquez, and failure to find their groove in the upcoming games could scupper their qualification hopes.
