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The National
21 hours 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.
The National
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
‘UAE deserves it': Cosmin Olaroiu eyes World Cup qualification next after achieving dream of continental glory
Before being ambushed and soaked by his triumphant Sharjah players ahead of his valedictory press conference late on Sunday night, Cosmin Olaroiu briefly let the veil slip. The hard man former centre-back, relentlessly driven to trophy after trophy, can clearly do gentle, too. Is there no end to his talents? Caio Lucas was in for media duties with his boss. He had a Brazil flag tied around his shoulders, the AFC Champions League Two most valuable player trophy in hand, and his two young sons in tow. Olaroiu saw them, and the tough guy veneer melted. The younger was upset after taking a tumble. 'What's wrong – you fell over?' Olaroiu asked, tenderly. 'That is what happens in football.' As the 55-year-old coach took his seat at the top table, he lifted both children onto his lap, and kissed them each on their cheeks. And then, straight back down to the business of assessing what went so right for Sharjah, after they signed off a season of near misses with the trophy that meant the most to them. Before Sunday night, only one UAE club – Ain, with two Champions League titles – had ever won a major Asian trophy. Now it is two, after Sharjah took the AFC Champions League Two crown with a 2-1 win over Lion City Sailors in Singapore. Olaroiu said it was a success all the country could share in. 'When we played in the semi-final against Al Taawoun, supporters from other teams came to support us,' Olaroiu said. 'This is for everyone, not just Sharjah but for the entire Emirates. First, I have to say thank you to all of them, and then to my players, who did a fantastic job. 'They ended with a trophy and I think they deserved it. I think this is the beginning of a new era in Sharjah. From here, they have to start to build a strong team with a strong mentality. 'I spent three-and-a-half years with them. We played eight finals and won five trophies. Now, in the moment I have to leave, but for them it is the beginning. 'I hope they will not stop here. I hope they will continue, and become bigger and bigger and bigger.' If Sharjah do go onto build a dynasty, it will be without Olaroiu. The Romanian will sign off from duty next week before taking up the reins of the UAE national team. He will be missed keenly. 'He gave me freedom,' Lucas, who will likely play a central role in Olaroiu's UAE side, too. 'He showed me the best place to be. I learned so much with him, and it will be very hard for us without him. 'But, like he said, it starts from now. We are going to try to do our best in every game. I just want to say thanks to him for everything that he did for this club. 'I am sure, without him, Sharjah would not be here. Thank you so much.' Olaroiu departs the club game having won it all. After 14 major honours across his time with Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli and now Sharjah, the one conspicuous omission was a continental title. That arrived at the last available opportunity, delivered via a Marcus Meloni goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time at the end of the final. 'My dream was to win a continental trophy,' Olaroiu said. 'I got near with Al Ahli, I was near with Steaua Bucharest. I had the biggest disappointments when we lost those games, and suffered a lot. 'I still remember those games, and when we scored [against Lion City Sailors], again those things came into my mind. 'Finally, I have done it. This is one of my dreams, and of course I have the dream to participate in the World Cup. I will do my best to do that, and I think this fantastic nation deserves it. 'The way this country has developed, the way they have grown up in sport, they deserve to participate in the World Cup. I hope we can do it.' Next up, the UAE job. It is not exactly an easy one. The UAE have a momentous game against Uzbekistan in Abu Dhabi at the start of June. Win that, and they would be in with a chance of direct qualification to the World Cup when they travel to Kyrgyzstan a few days later. The coach knows expectations are high, and the challenge great. But Olaroiu has broad enough shoulders to carry the burden. 'I have a very difficult mission,' he said. "I know the big responsibility that I have. 'I have always faced these challenges in my life. It is part of my life. I am used to having these kinds of games, not sleeping nice, but preparing and analysing. 'I have to pay back the hospitality this country has given me and my family. I have learned a lot of things in this country, and have made myself a better person with a better vision of life. 'I have to pay back, which is why I accepted this mission. I will give my best for it.'
Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Spirited Sharjah rejoice after AFC Champions League Two final victory over Lion City Sailors
Sharjah FC coach Cosmin Olaroiu, flanked by captain Shahin Abdulrahman and goalkeeper Adel Al-Hosani, lifting the Asian Champions League Two trophy after a 2-1 win over Lion City Sailors on May 18. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE – They have had to survive penalty shoot-outs in the last 16 and quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two last 16 and quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, Sharjah were minutes away from being eliminated by Saudi side Al Taawoun, before they scored twice in added time to win 2-1 on aggregate. It was no surprise that the Emirati side brought the same of the never-say-die spirit to the final against Lion City Sailors at Bishan Stadium on May 18. After breaking the deadlock through Firas Ben Arbi in the 74th minute, they were pegged back by Maxime Lestienne in the second minute of added time. Instead of holding out for extra time, the visitors went for the kill and were rewarded five minutes later when Marcus Meloni's solo effort sent the 500 away fans, many of whom came dressed in traditional white thobe tunic, into raptures. Tournament MVP Caio Lucas, a 31-year-old forward, admitted to struggling with the humidity as it rained during the match, and said: 'It was hard, and some players were getting tired. 'In the second half, when I was sprinting and shooting, I could not see anything and I had to lie down. But we still try our best until the final whistle.' Fellow Brazil-born Emirati Meloni, a 24-year-old midfielder whose goal helped Sharjah become the first team from the United Arab Emirates to win Asia's second-tier club competition, said: 'We are very happy and proud. This means a lot to the players, the team and the country, because we worked very hard to get this title. 'We were talking about it during dinner one day, about our struggle throughout the competition. I'm happy to score for the team and for the coach, because he deserves this.' The post-match press conference was gatecrashed by the Sharjah players, who cheered and doused their coach Cosmin Olaroiu with energy drinks, having given a perfect send-off to the Romanian, who will take over as UAE coach from their next World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan on June 6. Olaroiu was vindicated for his decision to forgo the UAE Pro League title challenge to put in their best effort in the ACL2. In their last five matches, they dropped 11 points in the league to cede the championship to Shabab Al-Ahli, and lost in the President's Cup final to the same opponents. Their reward is a first continental title, along with US$2.5 million (S$3.25 million) for winning the final and US$3.28 million in all. The 55-year-old said: 'We had eight games in 27 days and we had to try to change players to avoid injury and be effective. 'Sometimes we have to sacrifice some competitions to be ready for another competition. We have to focus on the competition we have the biggest chance in. 'In the end our strategy worked, we had a target and we reached it. We are not happy to lose any game, but we have to accept the way we choose is not always smooth.' As Olaroiu moves on after winning five cups in four seasons with the team, he hopes Sharjah can build on the success as he attempts to lead UAE to only their second World Cup appearance following their debut in 1990. He said: 'I hope this is the beginning of a new era for Sharjah, that they will start to build a strong team with a strong mentality. I may be leaving but for them but I hope they won't stop here, that they will continue and be bigger and stronger. 'One of my dreams is to participate in the World Cup and I will do my best to achieve this. I think this fantastic nation deserves it for how they have developed the country and grown the sport.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Arab News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Sharjah FC win first Asian title with dramatic victory in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Sharjah beat Lion City Sailors 2-1 on Sunday to win the AFC Champions League Two title in dramatic fashion. A second half goal from Firas Ben Larbi looked to have been enough to give the team from the UAE a first continental title at the Singapore home of their opponents. Yet Maxime Lestienne's injury time equaliser appeared likely to send the game into extra-time before the impressive Marcus Meloni won it in the 97th minute. Never stop dreaming. Never stop striving. Sharjah engrave their legacy as the 2024/25 #ACLTwo champions! — #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) May 18, 2025 It was the end of a long run to the final for Cosmin Olaroiu, who now leaves the club to take charge of the UAE national team with a 22nd title as a coach, and his men and it was a hard-fought victory in front of 10,000 fans at the Bishan Stadium. Lion City had the best chances of the first half and the home fans thought that the deadlock had been broken after 35 minutes. Rui Pires found Diego Costa on the left corner of the area and the Portuguese star controlled the ball and then, in the same motion, fired a low shot that came back off the post. One of the visitors' best moments came in added time at the end of the first half. David Petrovic curled a dangerous cross into the area from the left but Luanzinho's header was just a little too high and a little too wide. Midway through the second half Sharjah should have taken the lead. Ousmane Camara rose high at the near post to meet a corner from Meloni but headed just wide with the goal at his mercy. Seconds later, Luanzinho fired into the side-netting. Soon after that, Ben Larbi had the ball in the net, although the Tunisian was clearly offside. Then with 16 minutes remaining Sharjah took the lead to the delight of a sizeable contingent of fans in red and white. Khaled Ibrahim timed his run on the right side of the area perfectly to put the ball across the face of goal for Ben Larbi to tap home from close range. Ten minutes later, Sharjah almost extended their lead. Meloni's clever free kick from the right was blocked by Izwan Mahbud and Cho Yu-min, quick to the rebound, headed over from close range. The hosts pushed forward in search of an equaliser and while they had chances, Sharjah looked fairly comfortable. Then just after 11 minutes added time had been signalled, it was all square. Costa's pass found its way to Lestienne in space in the area, and the Belgian fired home. As all prepared themselves for extra time, Sharjah won it in the 97th minute through a piece of Meloni magic. The Brazilian-born midfielder had possession on the left of a crowded area, made room for himself and then curled a perfect shot from a tight angle into the opposite corner. It was a goal worthy of winning any final. There were some scary moments as the Sailors threw everything forward but this time, Sharjah held on and celebrated in front of their delirious travelling fans. 'It means a lot for us, the country and the fans and we worked so hard for this,' Meloni said. 'The final was like the rest of the competition. I am happy to score the winning goal but this was for the team and the coach, who deserves it.'
New Paper
18-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Wounded Sharjah up for revenge to 'get the trophy they deserve' in ACL2
After losing the United Arab Emirates President's Cup final and ceding the UAE Pro League to Shabab Al-Ahli in a winless run of five games, Sharjah FC's season looked like it was going pear-shaped after a promising start. Wounded they may be, but the Emirati club could be dangerous as they attempt to salvage their campaign with their first piece of continental silverware when they face hosts Lion City Sailors in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) final at Bishan Stadium on May 18. At the pre-match press conference on May 17, Sharjah coach Cosmin Olaroiu said: "We always learn from every game, and we knew this would be a very tough season for us and we are going to struggle a lot. "By the work of these fantastic players, we are in the ACL2 final, which is a big achievement for the club. Now we have the last battle, our last final, and we have to focus. "We didn't deserve to lose the President's Cup final, but now it's time to take revenge and get the trophy the players deserve. We come here with the idea to take the trophy, and try not to disappoint our fans and families. We should be able to make one more effort, it doesn't matter how much it will cost us, to try to win this game." Before a ball had been kicked, the visitors went on the offensive as early as April. They had asked the organisers for "the allocation of a suitable stadium worthy of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League 2 final", citing concerns over the Jalan Besar Stadium's 6,000 capacity and artificial pitch - the facility was used for the tournament's earlier rounds. The final was eventually moved to Bishan Stadium, which underwent upgrades to spruce up the natural turf, increase the capacity from around 3,000 to 10,000, and improve the lighting. Sharjah forward Caio Lucas said: "Sometimes it's hard to play on an artificial pitch, that's why we complained about that." Olaroiu added: "My point of view is that the final should be in a much proper stadium with a bigger capacity, because football is for the fans. Of course, all the other things like the quality of the pitch should have maximum standards, because it's a final and it is publicity for football in Asia. "They have made big efforts to fix these problems, and now we are here... our target is to win. We have to follow what we have to do and forget about all the other things." The team arrived in Singapore on May 14 with a full squad, including Brazil-born Emiratis like fullback Marcus Meloni and attackers Luanzinho and Lucas. Despite recent domestic struggles, they have shown fighting spirit in the second-tier Asian club competition, winning in the round of 16 and quarter-finals on penalties - with goalkeeper Adel Al-Hosani making four shoot-out saves - and coming from behind to beat Al-Taawoun in the semi-finals. Olaroiu complimented the Sailors for being "well-organised and well-prepared, with very good quality in front". Sharjah coach Cosmin Olaroiu complimented the Sailors for being "well-organised and well-prepared, with very good quality in front". PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The 55-year-old Romanian added: "They know how to use the spaces in transition. We have to take them seriously and with a lot of professionalism. Tomorrow, the team that find a way to have more self-control, play with maximum potential and peak in the final will win, and we hope it will be us." Sharjah will also be looking to give Olaroiu the perfect send-off, as the coach will take over the UAE national team from their next World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan in Abu Dhabi on June 5. Caio said: "We try our best in every game to listen to what coach tells us and win each match. It will be a pleasure for us to give him this win and trophy."
