KLIK SAJA - The journey to the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to heat up, and six teams have officially secured their spots in Round 4 of the AFC qualifiers.
The teams advancing to this decisive stage are Oman, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
These six nations will be drawn into two groups of three, with each team battling for a golden ticket to the biggest football stage on Earth.
Round 4 Draw Schedule:
Thursday, July 17, 2025 at the AFC Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Round 4 Match Dates:
October 8–14, 2025 (venue to be confirmed)
This round will be played in a centralized "home tournament" format, as it marks the final playoff phase to determine two additional Asian representatives that will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Only the group winners will advance directly to the World Cup, while the second-placed teams will move on to Round 5, and the bottom teams in each group will be eliminated.
A Draw Full of Drama: Southeast Asia vs. the Middle East Giants
With the teams for Round 4 now confirmed, the upcoming draw is expected to be dramatic—and potentially harsh—for underdogs like Indonesia.
As the only Southeast Asian team in a field dominated by Middle Eastern powerhouses, Indonesia has been placed in Pot 3, along with Oman, due to having the lowest FIFA rankings among the six teams.
This sets the stage for a possible “Group of Death” scenario, where Indonesia could be grouped with Qatar (Pot 1) and either Iraq or UAE (Pot 2)—all of whom boast formidable records and deep World Cup ambitions.
All eyes will undoubtedly be on Qatar, often dubbed the “golden child” of AFC and FIFA.
With significant political and institutional backing, Qatar's rise in Asian football has been meteoric, and some observers believe there could be implicit incentives to ensure another World Cup appearance for the Gulf nation.
Whether it's through footballing merit or strategic convenience, many expect Qatar to make the cut.
