Qatar's Ahmed Fathy is challenged by Kyrgyzstan players during the match.
Doha, Qatar: Ten-man Qatar were defeated 3-1 by Kyrgyzstan, ending their hopes of securing a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 through the third round of Asian qualifiers.
Iran became the first team from Group A and the second from the continent, after Japan, to seal their spot in the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, after they came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan.
Seeking their maiden World Cup appearance, Uzbekistan remained favourites to advance from the group with two matches remaining. However, the United Arab Emirates stayed in contention for a top-two finish in the group – which is needed for automatic qualification – after defeating North Korea 2-1 in another Group A match yesterday, thanks to a last-gasp goal by Sultan Adill Alamiri.
Iran stayed on top of the group with 20 points, three ahead of Uzbekistan, while the UAE are third with 13 points.
Placed fourth with 10 points, reigning Asian champions Qatar must at least retain their position in the group to advance to the fourth round in their quest for a first-ever World Cup qualification. They will play Iran and Uzbekistan on June 5 and June 10, respectively, in their last two matches.
The fourth qualifying round will consist of the third- and fourth-placed teams from the three third-round groups. These teams will face off once at a centralised venue, with the winner of each group securing a spot in the World Cup.
The runners-up from each group will advance to the fifth round, where they will compete in a home-and-away, two-legged series to determine Asia’s representatives in the inter-confederation play-offs.
It was a disappointing performance from Qatar at Bishkek’s Dolon Omurzakov Stadium, particularly after they thumped North Korea 5-1 at home last week.
Returning to the side after missing the win against North Korea, Almoez Ali shot over the bar after being set up by Naji Hussein just before the half-hour mark.
Valeriy Kichin put the hosts ahead in stoppage time of the first half with a low free kick from the right that curled into the goal past goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham without any deflection.
Qatar fought back seven minutes into the second half when Ahmed Suhail headed Akram Afif’s corner, and his flick deflected off Lucas Mendes on its way into the net.
The Asian champions suffered a setback three minutes later when they were reduced to ten men, with Mendes receiving a red card for a foul against Kai Merk.
A long-range shot by Aleksandr Mischenko regained the lead for Kyrgyzstan in the 82nd minute, with Alimardon Shukurov securing the win for the home side in the 90+3 minute, shattering Qatar’s hopes of a top-two finish.
“We will continue to fight for World Cup qualification until the last breath,” Qatar’s Suhail said after the match.
“We will learn from our mistakes and will come up with an improved performance in our next matches against Iran and Uzbekistan,” he added.
Kyrgyzstan, fifth in the group, moved to six points after the win, raising hopes of reaching the fourth qualifying round.
Iran’s players celebrate after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026. AFP
Meanwhile, Mehdi Taremi was the star for Iran, scoring a brace as they snatched a point against Uzbekistan in Tehran.
Hojimat Erkinov handed Uzbekistan a lead in the 16th minute, with Taremi equalising in the 52nd minute. Uzbekistan went ahead again with a goal from Abbosbek Fayzullaev the next minute, but Taremi scored his second goal with seven minutes left to secure a draw and Iran’s fourth consecutive World Cup spot.
At Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Fabio Lima gave the UAE a lead in the fifth minute, with Yu-Song Kim leveling in the 43rd minute. Alamiri headed the winner in the eighth and final minute of stoppage time. The defeat knocked North Korea – at the bottom of Group A with two points – out of the World Cup race.
