Appointment of Qatar and Saudi Arabia as 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Hosts Sparks Controversy

The AFC’s decision to appoint Qatar and Saudi Arabia as hosts of the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers has drawn strong reactions from several participating countries. Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman have lodged protests, arguing that there is potential for unfairness as both countries are also participants.

Six Asian teams will compete in two groups from October 8 to 14, 2025. The AFC cited suitable infrastructure and experience in hosting international events as key factors in their decision. However, the evaluation process for other candidate hosts was not made public.

PSSI, through Erick Thohir, stated that Indonesia remains committed to focusing on team preparation and hopes for fair competition. The AFC maintains that the process followed proper procedures, despite ongoing calls for transparency.