The UAE will host Iraq in the World Cup playoffs

The UAE and Iraq national teams will meet in a crucial match on Thursday in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, in the first leg of the Asian World Cup 2026 qualifying playoffs. Both teams are vying for a place in the global finals. The return leg will be played next Tuesday at Basra International Stadium in Iraq. Both teams will compete fiercely, driven by the ambition to join the eight Asian nations that have already secured their spots in the World Cup: Qatar, Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. Iraq and the UAE reached this stage after finishing second in their respective Asian qualifying groups last October. The UAE, led by Romanian coach Cosmin Olăroiu, hopes to capitalize on home advantage and secure a positive result before the return leg, aiming to return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990, their only previous appearance. The UAE national team has regained its form recently under the leadership of the Romanian coach, losing only one of its last five official matches – a 1-2 defeat against Qatar, a match that secured the Maroons' qualification for the finals. The UAE will be without Fabio Lima due to injury, but coach Olariu has promising attacking options in Ali Saleh, Sultan Adel, and Caio Lucas, on whom the coaching staff is relying to make a difference in front of goal and give the team an advantage before the second leg. Meanwhile, the Iraqi national team is suffering from significant absences, most notably Ibrahim Bayesh and Youssef Amin. However, Iraqi fans are eagerly anticipating the end of a forty-year wait to return to the World Cup, following their sole historic appearance in Mexico in 1986. Despite these absences, Australian coach Graham Arnold draws confidence from the return of the attacking duo Ayman Hussein and Ali Al Hammadi, who represent a formidable force in the forward line.