2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fifth round

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2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fifth round
Event FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers
United Arab Emirates Iraq
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Flag of Iraq.svg
23
First leg
United Arab Emirates Iraq
11
Date13 November 2025 (2025-11-13)
Venue Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Referee Shaun Evans (Australia)
Attendance32,008
Second leg
Iraq United Arab Emirates
21
Date18 November 2025 (2025-11-18)
Venue Basra International Stadium, Basra
RefereeYusuke Araki
Attendance62,444

The AFC fifth round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification were played from 13 to 18 November 2025. The matches were played between the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, to determine which team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Contents

Format

The two second-placed teams in each group from the fourth round are playing against each other over two legs in 13–18 November 2025 to determine which team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs. [1] The order of legs was determined by draw. [2]

Qualified teams

Group
(Fourth round)		Runners-up
A Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
B Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq

Schedule

The competition schedule is expected to be as follows: [1] [3]

MatchdayDate
First leg13 November 2025
Second leg18 November 2025

Summary

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
United Arab Emirates  Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg2–3Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 1–1 1–2

Matches

First leg

United Arab Emirates  Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg1–1Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
  • Luanzinho Soccerball shade.svg18'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 32,008
Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia)

Second leg

The winner, Iraq, advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg2–1Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Basra International Stadium, Basra
Attendance: 62,444
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)

Goalscorers

There were 5 goals scored in 2 matches, for an average of 2.5 goals per match.

1 goal

References

  1. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions". Asian Football Confederation. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Road to 26 Playoffs draw finalised". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "AFC Competitions Calendar (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026)" (PDF). AFC. 7 April 2023.
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