Khaberni - The Asian Football Confederation unveiled today, Tuesday, the dates for the matches between the Iraqi and Emirati national teams in the fifth round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup 2026.
It has been decided that the Emirati team "Al-Abyad" will host its counterpart, the "Lions of Mesopotamia", in the first leg on Thursday, November 13, at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi at 8 PM local time.
The return match will be hosted by Iraq against the UAE on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Basra International Stadium, at 7 PM local time in Iraq.
The winner of the aggregate score will advance to the global playoff that qualifies for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Six teams will compete within the global playoff, with only two teams qualifying for the biggest world championships.
