The nine highest-ranked teams, including host country Qatar, will join the seven winners from the qualifying stage in the final tournament.

Shaikh Salman reaffirmed that the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 represents an excellent addition to the international football calendar, as it paves the way for 23 Arab teams to participate in a top-level and highly-competitive environment. He added his confidence in FIFA, who continue to support the development of such competitions, to provide the perfect stage for the region’s finest talents.

With Qatar’s Al Duhail SC having suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Al Shorta of Iraq in the group earlier match on Tuesday, Al Ahli Saudi and Esteghlal went into their tie at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium knowing victory would place them in pole position to win the group and seal the sole automatic ticket to the Round of 16.

Instead, the 90 minutes ended in a stalemate, with both tied on eight points with Al Duhail going into Matchday Six on Thursday.

Dzhalilov struck in the last minute of stoppage time to secure all three points for Istiklol, keeping the Tajikistan champions at the top of Group A with 10 points, with the captain also praising his teammates on following their game plan.

Al Hilal showed no signs of carrying the effects of the 4-1 Machday Four defeat to FC Istiklol as goals from Luciano Vietto, Bafetimbi Gomis and Yasir Al Shahrani sealed victory against AGMK at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.

The three points took Al Hilal to 10 points, level with FC Istiklol with the Tajikistan side topping the table on a better head-to-head with the Saudi side.

The Al Duhail head coach could only watch bemusedly as the already eliminated Al Shorta claimed their first points of the campaign thanks to goals from Amjed Attwan and Mohammed Dawood.

While the Iraqi side had every reason to celebrate their victory, the result was a body blow to Al Duhail’s Round of 16 chances, with the Qataris tied on eight points with Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal FC and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli Saudi FC going into Matchday Six.

Iraq will face Thailand, while Vietnam will play Lebanon, with the respective winners of the two-legged playoffs to advance to global finals.

The first legs of the playoffs will be staged on May 20, with the return matches pencilled in for five days later.