Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Playoffs

Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Playoffs: Squads, Teams and Start Time

Pranav Venkatesh

Published - Nov 11, 2025, 08:41 AM

3 min

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Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Playoffs

Summary

The UAE is set to take on Iraq in the AFC World Cup qualifiers playoffs
The winners advance to the inter-confederation play-offs
The fifth round of the AFC World Cup qualifier will take place over two legs

The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost at the finish line. Plenty of teams have already booked their place at the showpiece event in the USA. To fill up the remaining spots, the Asian AFC World Cup qualifiers playoffs are about to get underway. Two teams that finished as runners-up from the fourth round will play each other over two legs in the Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

The winner of the Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers will qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs. The loser has to go home empty-handed with a broken heart.

Let us take a look at the Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Teams and AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Squad.

When are the Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Playoffs?

The Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Playoffs get underway on 13th November 2025 and conclude on 18th November 2025. Here are the venues and kickoff timings.

Date	Kick-off Time	Venue
13th November 2025	10:00 CT/ 11:00 ET/ 16:00 GMT /17:00 CET/ 19:00 AST / 20:00 UAE ST /21:30 IST / 22:00 BST / 00:00 WITA (+1)	Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
18th November 2025	10:00 CT/ 11:00 ET/ 16:00 GMT /17:00 CET/ 19:00 AST / 20:00 UAE ST /21:30 IST / 22:00 BST / 00:00 WITA (+1)	Basra International Stadium, Basra

Asian AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Playoffs schedule

What are the AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Teams?

The UAE and Iraq are the AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Teams. UAE qualified by finishing second in the fourth round. Qatar won Group A as the UAE finished with 3 points. Iraq qualified from Group B by finishing second to Saudi Arabia. Iraq and Saudi Arabia both had the same points and goal difference, but Iraq finished second painfully due to the number of goals scored.

What are the AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Squad?

Here are the AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Squad for the UAE and Iraq:
UAE: Khalid Eisa, Ali Khaif, Hamad Al Makbali, Robin Felipe, Richard O'Connor, Lucas Pimenta, Kwame Kwadwo, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Alaeddine Zouhir, Marcus Meloni, Khalid Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Rabih, Yahya Nader, Abdullah Ramadan, Luan Pereira, Majed Rashid, Gaston Suarez, Nicolas Jimenez, Ali Saeed, Harib Abdullah, Yahya Al Ghannati, Bruno Oliveira, Caio Lucas, Caio Canedo, Sultan Adel, Mohammed Awadallah.

Iraq: Fahad Talib, Ahmed Basil, Jalal Hassan, Hussein Ali, Mustafa Saadoon, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashem, Manaf Younis, Rebin Sulaka, Amir Al Ammaro, Osama Rashid, Aimar Sher, Merchas Doski, Ahmed Yehia, Sherko Kareem, Hasan Abdulkareem, Marko Farji, Montader Madjed, Youssed Amyn, Zidane Iqbal, Kevin Yakob, Amar Muhsin, Mohanad Ali, Aymen Hussein, Ali Jassim.