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The National
3 days ago
- General
- The National
World Cup 2026: Can UAE qualify automatically if they beat Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan?
Cosmin Olaroiu will oversee his first fixtures as UAE manager when the national team play Uzbekistan on Thursday and then travel to face Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday. The Romanian coach has enjoyed a glittering career in the club game in the region. Now, his first assignments with the UAE could scarcely be any more significant. The national team are still in with an outside chance of making it automatically to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But Olaroiu is going to have to work some magic to make it happen. State of play The top two teams in the group advance directly to the main event. Iran are already assured of one of those places. The UAE and Uzbekistan are the only two sides mathematically in contention for the second. Ahead of the final two matches in the group, the Uzbeks are second, and have a four-point cushion over the national team. With six points left to play for, there is no margin for error for the UAE – but there is still a chance. The permutations To keep the dream alive, the UAE have to beat the Uzbeks when they play at Al Nahyan Stadium – the home of Al Wahda Club – on Thursday evening. If they do that, they will move to within a point of them ahead of the last round of matches on Tuesday. The national team do have one thing in their favour. Their goal difference is superior to the Uzbeks. It means that if they do win on Thursday, Olaroiu's side would have to better what Uzbekistan do in their respective final matches on Tuesday. Meaning, if the UAE beat Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek, and the Uzbeks draw or lose at home to Qatar, the national team would qualify for the World Cup. If the UAE were to draw in Kyrgyzstan, that would also be enough if Uzbekistan lost to Qatar. Is there a fall back option? Sultan Adil's dramatic stoppage time winner to beat North Korea in Riyadh in the UAE's most recent qualifier was not enough to save Paulo Bento's job as manager. It did, though, guarantee the UAE a place in the next phase of qualifying – as a minimum if they don't go through automatically. The third and fourth placed teams in the three groups in the current phase of qualifying will enter into a six-team repechage event. The sides will be split into two groups of three, at a centralized venue, from October 8 to 14. The teams will play two matches in the group, and the sides who finish top will make it to the World Cup. And after that? The qualifying process might seem never-ending, but it will eventually finish at some point. The two runners up in the three-team groups in the competition in October will face each other home and away in November. The winner will go to a six-team intercontinental play-off in March next year. That will include sides from Africa and the Americas, plus New Caledonia from the Oceania confederation. This event – played in one of the three countries hosting the World Cup – will decide the last two teams to play at the main event.
Gulf Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Sharjah end season in style with victory over Al Wasl, Al Wahda and Al Orooba win
Sharjah wrapped up their ADNOC Pro League campaign on a high note, delivering a commanding second-half performance to secure a 4-1 win over Al Wasl at the Sharjah Stadium on Sunday evening. The result not only showcased their attacking prowess but also ensured a strong finish to the season, cementing second place in the standings with 51 points. Al Wasl, meanwhile, concluded their campaign in fourth place with 46 points. The first half offered little in the way of action, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances. Defensive discipline dominated the opening 45 minutes, leading to a goalless stalemate at the break. However, the second half painted an entirely different picture. Sharjah returned to the pitch with renewed energy and intent, and it didn't take long for them to make their mark. In the 53rd minute, they broke the deadlock through a confidently taken penalty, expertly dispatched into the top-right corner beyond the reach of Al Wasl's goalkeeper. Just three minutes later, the lead was doubled. Lucas produced a moment of brilliance, firing a thunderous first-time half-volley into the back of the net, leaving the defense stunned and the crowd roaring. Sharjah continued their relentless assault and found a third goal in the 65th minute. Luan Pereira capitalized on a defensive error, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner to make it 3-0. Al Wasl managed to pull one back in the 68th minute, albeit through an unfortunate own goal. In attempting to intercept Rodrigo Oliveira's low cross, Shaheen Abdalla accidentally deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper, giving his side a glimmer of hope. But any chances of a comeback were dashed in the 83rd minute when Ousmane Camara sealed the win in style. After collecting the ball, he made a sharp cut inside the box and coolly slotted it between the legs of the goalkeeper, restoring Sharjah's three-goal cushion and securing all three points. Al Wahda down Al Bataeh: Al Wahda concluded their campaign in style, securing a convincing 3-1 victory over Al Bataeh at the Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium on Sunday. The win ensured that the Abu Dhabi-based club finished the season in third place with 48 points, capping off a solid performance throughout the league campaign. Meanwhile, Al Bataeh concluded their season in 11th place, having accumulated 27 points. The match got off to a lively start, with Al Wahda asserting their dominance early. Iranian midfielder Ahmad Noorollah opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area. The goal was made possible by a moment of brilliance from Syrian forward Omar Khribin, who delivered an exquisite backheeled pass to set up Noorollah's finish. Khribin, who had already impressed with his creative play, soon found his name on the scoresheet as well. In the 19th minute, he coolly converted from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to double Al Wahda's lead and underline his influential role in the contest. Al Bataeh responded swiftly, managing to pull one back just four minutes later. Brazilian forward Alvaro de Oliveira latched onto a precise cross from Uzbek midfielder Azizjon Ganiev and struck a crisp first-time half-volley into the top-left corner, giving his side a glimmer of hope. However, Al Wahda restored their two-goal cushion just before halftime. Noorollah was once again at the right place at the right time, pouncing on a loose rebound inside the six-yard box and slotting it to complete his brace in the 43rd minute. Despite some second-half efforts from both sides, the scoreline remained unchanged, and Al Wahda walked away with all three points and a strong finish to their league's journey. Al Orooba closed out their season with a 2-1 away win over Dibba Al Hisn at the Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi Stadium in the final matchweek of the campaign. Players of Sharjah celebrate after their win over Al Wasl in the ADNOC Pro League match at the Sharjah Stadium on Sunday.
Sharjah 24
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
Al Wahda ends season in third after 3-1 victory over Al Bataeh
Al Wahda secures third place and AFC Champions League spot With this victory, Al Wahda concluded the season in third place with 48 points, earning a spot in the AFC Champions League. Al Bataeh finished the season in 11th place with 27 points. Key goals seal the win Al Wahda's goals came from Ahmed Nourallah, who scored twice in the 11th and 43rd minutes, and Omar Khribin, who added a goal in the 21st minute. Al Bataeh's lone goal was scored by Alvaro de Oliveira in the 23rd minute.
Gulf Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Al Wahda fight back to secure draw with Al Jazira
The latest edition of the Abu Dhabi derby delivered high drama and end-to-end action as Al Wahda came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw against city rivals Al Jazira in matchweek 25 of the Pro League on Monday night at Al Nahyan Stadium. With the atmosphere electric and the stakes high, the match lived up to its billing as one of the fiercest rivalries in UAE football. Both teams showed attacking intent from the first whistle, and the game quickly turned into a pulsating battle of wills, emotions, and moments of brilliance. The draw sees Al Wahda climb to second place in the standings with 45 points. Al Jazira, meanwhile, remain in seventh position with 37 points, still in contention for a top-four finish but ruing the missed opportunity to take all three points from their fierce rivals. Al Jazira made a dream start to the derby, striking early to stun the home fans. In just the fourth minute, Moroccan winger Nassim Chadli unleashed a thunderous long-range strike from just outside the box that rocketed into the top right corner of the net, leaving Al Wahda goalkeeper Rashed Ali rooted to the spot. It was a goal of the highest quality, setting the tone for what would become a gripping encounter. Despite going behind, Al Wahda refused to be rattled. They gradually grew into the game, with midfielders Ahmad Noorollah and Ala Zhir orchestrating play and probing the Al Jazira defense. The pressure eventually paid off in the 39th minute. Mohammad Rasoul rose above the defenders and powered in a header from Noorollah's expertly delivered corner kick to level the score at 1-1. The timing of the goal gave the home side momentum heading into the break. After the restart, Al Jazira came out with renewed urgency and quickly reclaimed the lead. In the 54th minute, French playmaker Nabil Fekir curled in a precise corner to the far post, where defender Ravil Tagir headed the ball back across the face of goal. Argentine striker Ramon Mierez met it with a thunderous header, restoring Al Jazira's advantage in style. The match continued at a high tempo, with both sides pressing relentlessly. Al Wahda nearly found the equalizer midway through the second half when Ala Zhir slipped a clever through pass to Facundo Daniel inside the box. The Argentine forward found himself one-on-one with veteran goalkeeper Ali Khaseif, but Al Jazira captain showed his class with a crucial save to preserve his team's lead. The final minutes were tense, with both teams pushing for a late winner, but neither side could find the decisive goal. In the end, the spoils were shared in what was a fittingly intense and memorable clash between two of the capital's giants. In another match, Al Ain and Ajman battled to a goalless stalemate at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. Despite flashes of attacking promise late in the game, neither side was able to find the back of the net in a match that will be remembered more for its missed opportunities than its moments of brilliance.
The Star
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Shabab Al Ahli win UAE Pro League title after Sharjah defeat
(Reuters) - Shabab Al Ahli clinched their ninth UAE Pro League title on Sunday after second-placed Sharjah suffered a 3-0 defeat against Al Wahda. Shabab Al Ahli, who lost 2-1 to last year's champions Al Wasl on Saturday, their first defeat of the season, had needed just a point to secure the title. However, Al Wahda handed them the championship by defeating Sharjah, their closest rivals, with goals scored by Facundo Daniel and Jadsom da Silva in the first half and a third from Brahima Diarra after the break. With three matches remaining, Shabab Al Ahli lead the standings with 56 points, 11 points ahead of Sharjah. Al Wahda are in third place with 41 points. (Reporting By Ahmed Abd Ellatif; Editing by Toby Davis)
