After beating South Korea, how can UAE qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup?

National team maintained their chances of reaching finals with stunning win over Son Heung-min and Co

The UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates scoring the only goal of the game against South Korea in the World Cup qualifier at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. AFP

UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa celebrates after the match. Reuters

UAE players celebrate after the match. Reuters

South Korea attacker Son Heung-min goes down under a challenge from Caio Canedo. Reuters

UAE match-winner Harib Abdallah and South Korea's Nam Tae-Hee challenge for a header. Getty

UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. EPA

UAE's Caio Canedo on the attack. Getty

Action during the game at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Getty

UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa makes a save. EPA

UAE's Mohammed Al Baloushi battles for the ball with South Korea forward Son Heung-min. AFP

UAE defend a free-kick. Reuters

UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates scoring the winning goal. AFP

UAE's Abdulaziz Hussain. Getty

UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. EPA

South Korea's Son Heung-min holds off the challenge of Majed Hassan of the UAE. Reuters

UAE attacker Caio Canedo fouls South Korea goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo. AP

UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates with teammates after scoring. Reuters

South Korea attacker Son Heung-min. EPA

Kim Min-jae of South Korea and UAE's Caio Canedo battle for the ball. EPA

South Korea's Hee-Chan Hwang battles for possession with Mohammed Al Baloushi of the UAE. Reuters

South Korea's Kim Jin-su kicks the ball under pressure from Abdulaziz Hussain of the UAE. Reuters

South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan on the ball against the UAE. Reuters

UAE fans at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Reuters

The UAE team before the match in Dubai. AFP

The UAE will be in the World Cup qualifying draw when it takes place in Doha on Friday.

Harib Abdullah’s goal was enough to give them a 1-0 win against South Korea at Maktoum Stadium on Tuesday night. It meant they will advance in the qualification process – although there is still work to do to make it to Qatar.

Group A table

Finishing third place in their Asian qualifying group meant UAE will now advance to the final eliminator process, to be played in Qatar in June.

Asian playoff

First, they will face a one-game playoff against Australia, who finished third in the other third round group of Asian qualifying, behind Saudi Arabia and Japan.

UAE will be looking to avenge defeat to the same opposition in Sydney in 2017, which ended the national team’s chances of making it to the World Cup in Russia.

Intercontinental playoff

The winners of that fixture face a final eliminator, against the fifth-placed side from South America’s regional qualifying structure.

Peru secured that place by a point ahead of Colombia, after they beat Paraguay 2-0 in Lima on Tuesday night.

Then what?

UAE will be part of the draw for the World Cup on Friday. The winners of the intercontinental playoff – so either UAE, Australia or Peru – will be placed in pot four for the draw, which means they will be among the lowest-seeded sides for the competition.

Other teams in that tier of the draw will be Ecuador, Saudi, Ghana and three sides who make it through the final eliminators in European qualifying.