JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAE FA) has asked FIFA and AFC to be neutral. This is related to the decision to appoint the host of the 2026 World Cup Qualification Fourth Round.
There are already six countries that will continue their struggle in the Fourth Round. They are Indonesia, the UAE, Iraq, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
Later, these six teams will be divided into two groups. The winners of each group will advance to the 2026 World Cup, while the team in the runner-up position will continue their hopes through the Fifth Round.
The division of this team will be determined through a draw or draw which will be held in Osaka, Japan, on July 17, 2025. This agenda will also determine the host of each group.
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Before the draw was held, in fact the AFC had confirmed that the Fourth Round of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers would be held in two contestant countries. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are predicted to be the host's strong candidates.
It turned out that this situation was protested by the UAE FA who requested that FIFA and AFC be neutral in choosing the host country.
"The Football Association (UAE) asked FIFA and AFC to be neutral when choosing the host country for Asian play-off matches."
"This is stated in an official letter sent by the UAE Football Association to FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation, which emphasizes the importance of justice and transparency in the selection process, which must comply with the provisions and regulations that guarantee the rights of all national teams participating in the Asian play-offs," wrote the UAE FA in a release. uploaded on Instagram quoted on Friday, June 13, 2025.
The UAE has also officially submitted an application to host the 2026 World Cup Qualification Fourth Round match.
"The UAE has also officially submitted an application to host a match in one of the two groups, within the deadline set by the Confederation of Continental (AFC)."
"The UAE has achieved significant success in hosting tournaments and sporting events as well as major international football."
"It should be noted that our national team (UAE) is considered the team with the best rankings among the teams participating in the Asian play-offs, after finishing third in the group with 15 points," wrote the UAE FA.
Previously, the Iraq Football Association (IFA) also supported statements asking FIFA and AFC to be transparent in the 2026 World Cup Qualification Fourth Round of host elections.
This was revealed by IFA through an official statement uploaded through the association's official Instagram account on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
"Today, the Iraq Football Association (IFA) sent an official letter to FIFA and AFC, urging transparency and justice in the process of hosting the 2024 World Cup Qualifiers Fourth Round," the IFA wrote in a statement.
"Through this letter, IFA confirmed that Iraq has officially submitted a request to host two groups based on the time window that the AFC has created," continued IFA.
Apart from Iraq, Oman also voiced to FIFA and AFC that the appointment of the host of the 2026 World Cup Qualification Fourth Round could be carried out fairly.
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