JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Qatar will face the United Arab Emirates in the final round of Gulf Cup Group B on Wednesday, with both teams already assured of places in the semi-finals.
Qatar and the UAE have six points each after two wins, with the UAE leading the group on goal difference. The match will be played at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Qatar opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Bahrain before beating Yemen 1-0, keeping clean sheets in both matches. The UAE defeated Yemen 4-0 and Bahrain 3-0.
A draw would be enough for both teams to advance, with the UAE retaining top spot in Group B.
Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui said his side’s objective was to reproduce the level shown in their opening two matches while maintaining morale ahead of the knockout stage.
Lopetegui said qualifying for the semi-finals early had been a target for the coaching staff, allowing the team to reduce pressure on the players and give more squad members playing time before the knockout rounds.
He also said substitutions in the opening matches had been made partly because of fatigue, with the players now in a recovery phase. Lopetegui added that he had not finalised his lineup for the UAE match but would select the best available players.
In the other Group B match, Bahrain face Yemen at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium. Both teams have been eliminated after losing their opening two games.
The Group B winners will face the Group A runners-up in the semi-finals, while the Group A winners meet the Group B runners-up on Oct. 3. The final is scheduled for Oct. 6.
Qatar and the UAE now meet with the group standings still to be decided, while the semi-final pairings will be confirmed after the final round.
