AFC Asian Qualifiers - We deserved to qualify, says Qatar's Lopetegui

Akram Afif unlocked the UAE defence on both occasions at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, the reigning AFC Player of the Year delivering free-kicks in the 49th and 74th minutes for his teammates to nod in the goals that took Julien Lopetegui’s side through.

Sultan Adil scored deep into injury time after Tarek Salman’s earlier red card to set up a tense finish but Qatar, who had never qualified for the Finals before having made their debut at the tournament in 2022 at hosts, prevailed.

The UAE, meanwhile, will go into a two-legged playoff next month against the runners-up in Group B. The winners of that game will then feature in the FIFA Playoff Tournament in March.

Neither side was able to find a way through in front of a crowd in excess of 60,000 at a raucous King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, with the result taking the Saudis to a third consecutive FIFA World Cup Finals and seventh in total.

Saudi Arabia won the group having scored more goals over their two games against Iraq and Indonesia, their 3-2 victory over the Southeast Asian side last Wednesday proving decisive in the overall standings.

Graham Arnold’s side, meanwhile, will continue their campaign for a first FIFA World Cup qualification since 1986 against the United Arab Emirates in a two-legged playoff next month, with the winners advancing to the FIFA Playoff Tournament in March.