Goals: Nasser 62', 88'.

The match, initially scheduled for 31/3 in Lebanon, was relocated to Qatar and played today, 4/6, due to ongoing Middle East conflicts. This was the final matchday for Group B of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Lebanon led the group with 13 points, while Yemen trailed by two points. Consequently, Lebanon needed only a draw, but Yemen required a victory to advance.

The first half saw both teams play cautiously, creating few clear chances. In the second half, a defensive error in the 62nd minute cost Lebanon. Following a long pass from Yemen near the penalty area, Walid Shour’s header clearance was poor. Adel Abbas Qasem seized the opportunity, heading the ball to Nasser Mohammedoh, who broke the offside trap to face the goalkeeper and calmly slotted it into the right corner with his right foot, opening the scoring.

Nasser Mohammedoh (number 7) scored two goals, helping Yemen defeat Lebanon 2-0 in the final Group B match of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers at Grand Hamad Stadium in Qatar on 4/6/2026. *Photo: Yemen FA*

Immediately after, Lebanon had a chance to equalize. However, Shahin Farah’s shot inside the box was blocked by a Yemen defender who tracked back with a sliding tackle.

Lebanon pushed forward in search of an equalizer but were unsuccessful. They conceded a second goal in the 88th minute from a counter-attack. Mamdooh Ban Agag delivered a through ball into the box, allowing Nasser to score and complete his brace.

When the final whistle blew, Yemen players rushed onto the field to celebrate. Hero Nasser draped himself in the national flag and ran around Grand Hamad Stadium, while coach Noureddine Ould Ali wept in the technical area.

Coach Noureddine Ould Ali cried after helping Yemen defeat Lebanon 2-0 to secure a spot in the Asian Cup 2027 finals.

The 2-0 victory marks Yemen's second appearance in the Asian Cup finals, following their debut in 2019. In their first participation, Yemen exited at the group stage after losses to Iran (0-5), Iraq (0-3), and Vietnam (0-2). Previously, Yemen had faced Vietnam once before, securing a 2-0 win at ASIAD 2002.

Ranked 149th, Yemen holds the lowest FIFA ranking among the teams in the Asian Cup 2027 finals. They will enter Group E as the 4th seed, facing South Korea on 10/1, UAE on 15/1, and Vietnam on 20/1.

Asian Cup 2027 will feature 24 teams divided into six groups. Teams will play a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16.

Asian Cup 2027 is scheduled from 7/1 to 5/2, hosted across eight stadiums in three Saudi Arabian cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar. All past champions of the tournament, except Israel, are participating. Japan leads with 4 titles (1992, 2000, 2004, and 2011). Following them are Saudi Arabia and Iran with three titles each; South Korea and Qatar with two; and Kuwait, Australia, and Iraq with one each. Qatar won the last two tournaments.

Hieu Luong