Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
Qatar trail Uzbekistan by six points. The visitors are seen with a slightly better chance. Perhaps it's because Qatar participated in the 2022 World Cup, whereas Uzbekistan did not?
Qatar
Qatar's performance at the World Cup was disappointing, as they lost all their group matches. Last year, Qatar hosted and won the Asian Cup, overcoming the challenge of Uzbekistan (1:1, 3:2 on penalties), Iran (3:2), and finally Jordan in the final (3:1). In this qualifying campaign, they lost to Iran (1:4) and now sit in fourth place, primarily due to their win over Kyrgyzstan (3:1). Despite dropping points, Qatar remain a formidable opponent.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan have shared points only with the established favourite, Iran (0:0), and have beaten the rest. However, their victories have been by a narrow margin— against North Korea (1:0), Kyrgyzstan (3:2), and the UAE (1:0). They clinched wins against their neighbours and the UAE in the final quarter of the games, demonstrating their ability to press for a late result.
Qatar vs Uzbekistan Prediction
The match in the 2023 Asian Cup was their only encounter in the last five years, and Uzbekistan had previously been dominant. However, the Arab side have closed the gap. Betting on the total is risky given the differing playing styles, and a closely contested match is expected. The level of Uzbek players, many of whom have started moving to Europe, should make a difference. They will not lose and are expected to score, as Qatar have conceded in every match of this round.
