The UAE national team takes on Iran on Thursday in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The high-stakes match at Azadi Stadium in Tehran sees the UAE aiming for a crucial away victory to boost their chances of direct qualification.
The UAE currently sit third in Group A with 10 points, trailing Uzbekistan (13 points) and Iran (16 points). A win against the group leaders would be a significant step towards securing a World Cup berth.
The UAE squad consists of 27 players from diverse football backgrounds, bolstered by the naturalisation of several players who have completed their legal residency and meet FIFA eligibility criteria. Among them are Brazilian trio Caio Lucas and Luan Pereira (Sharjah), Jonatas de Santos (Al Wasl), and Alaa Eldin Zuhair (Al Wahda).
A major boost for the UAE comes in the form of striker Sultan Adel, returning to strengthen the attack after a period of limited forward options. The addition of winger Caio Lucas further enhances coach Paulo Bento’s offensive options. Meanwhile, midfielder Abdullah Ramadan is also back to bolster the team's midfield.
We worked hard to prepare the players physically and technically for our match against Iran, as our matches against them are always tough. Our ambition is to achieve a positive result against a strong team playing at home and among its fans.
Defender Kouame Autonne too was confident about his team putting up a strong performance.
A tough match awaits us against Iran, and we are fully prepared for this confrontation from all technical and moral aspects. We will play for a positive result that will strengthen our position in the group, and our self-confidence is very high.
Hosts Iran, regular World Cup participants, will be without midfielder Saeed Ezzat (Shabab Al Ahli) due to injury, a setback for the home side. In the first-leg encounter last September, Iran edged past the UAE with a solitary goal by Mehdi Ghaedi at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. However, the UAE put up a strong fight, proving they could match the formidable Iranian team.
For the UAE, victory is the only option. They must win their remaining two qualifiers — against Iran tomorrow and North Korea in Riyadh in a few days — to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun, currently with AS Roma on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, speaking to Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) said he hoped that both Iran and the UAE will qualify.
I believe the UAE team deserves to be in the World Cup with the quality of football they play. They put in a strong performance against us in the first leg. Our focus is on securing a win here and against Uzbekistan to qualify as group leaders, and I hope that result also benefits the UAE.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers consist of four stages, involving 46 teams:
• First Round: The 20 lowest-ranked teams play for 10 spots in the second round.
• Second Round: The 10 advancing teams join the top 26 Asian teams, divided into nine groups. The top two from each group move on and qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
• Third Round: The 18 remaining teams are split into three groups. The top two from each group qualify directly for the World Cup.
• Fourth Round: The third- and fourth-placed teams from each group are divided into two groups. The winners qualify directly, while the runners-up face off for a spot in the intercontinental play-off.
In parallel to the UAE-Iran clash, Uzbekistan (currently second with 13 points) will host Kyrgyzstan in another key fixture. This match will mark the debut of Uzbekistan’s new coach, Timur Kapadze, following the departure of Slovenian manager Srecko Katanec.
With the stakes higher than ever, the UAE’s clash with Iran is set to be a decisive battle in their World Cup qualification journey.
UAE national team coach Paulo Bento: We worked hard to prepare the players physically and technically for our match against Iran, as our matches against them are always tough. Our ambition is to achieve a positive result against a strong team playing at home and among its fans.
