Report from KSAsportz
KUALA LUMPUR— On Thursday, the Asian Football Confederation conducted the draw for the final play-off round of the qualification for the 2026 World Cup, placing Saudi Arabia in Group B alongside Iraq and Indonesia.Six teams are vying for the two remaining direct spots in the expanded 48-team World Cup, joining the six Asian nations that already qualified in the previous round: Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.Saudi Arabia, positioned in Pot 1 with Qatar, will kickoff their Group B journey against Indonesia on October 8, followed by an important match against Iraq on October 14.Group A consists of Qatar, the UAE, and Oman, with only the leading team in each group earning direct qualification.The second-placed teams will compete in a single elimination match, with the winner moving on to the intercontinental play-off for a final chance at qualification.The draw took place at AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, attended by team representatives.It was overseen by Timur Kapadze, who recently guided Uzbekistan to their inaugural World Cup qualification.This final play-off round presents one last chance for regional powerhouses like Saudi Arabia to secure a place in the 2026 tournament, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.