Tashkent: The Qatari national football team faced a 3-0 defeat against hosts Uzbekistan in a match held today as part of the 10th and final round of Group A in the third stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.
According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar had already secured qualification to the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers after a crucial 1-0 victory over Iran in the previous round, finishing with 13 points in fourth place. Despite the loss, Qatar remains on track for the next stage of the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the match saw Uzbekistan and Iran secure direct qualification to the World Cup by finishing first and second in the group, respectively. The UAE also advanced to the fourth round by securing third place in the group rankings.
Uzbekistan's victory was sealed with goals from Azizbek Turgunboev, Eldor Shomurodov, and Igor Sergeev, who scored in the 28th, 86th, and 90+2nd minutes, respectively. This win temporarily placed Uzbekistan at the top of the group with 21 points, pending the outcome of the Iran vs. North Korea match later today.