Confident UAE Takes on Strong Iran in FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier

The UAE and Iran are gearing up for a crucial Group A showdown in the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for Tuesday. Both teams are coming off strong performances in their opening matches and are eager to secure another vital win.

The UAE showcased their resilience with a stunning 3-1 comeback victory over Qatar, marking their first win against the West Asian rivals since 2015. The victory, achieved with three second-half goals, underscored the capabilities of Paulo Bento’s squad. Bento, who previously guided Korea Republic to the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, remains optimistic about his team’s chances against Iran. “We are not geniuses when we turn around a result like that. We are not failures when we lose the game either. We are simple people who try to win in football. We try to bring the players the best possible tools to win a game,” Bento commented.

Iran, seeking their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance and seventh overall, narrowly defeated Kyrgyz Republic 1-0 in their opener. Despite the win, head coach Amir Ghalenoei admitted that the team needs to improve their performance. “We could have scored five or six but our offensive substitutions didn’t quite work out. We will try to show better quality in the next game,” Ghalenoei said. Historically, Iran has had the upper hand against the UAE, with their most recent encounter at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 ending in a 2-1 victory for Iran.

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In Group B, Kuwait faces a challenging match against Iraq. Kuwait earned a crucial point with a 1-1 draw against Jordan, coming from behind thanks to a late penalty. Head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi is aware of the task ahead. “We need to work harder against Iraq at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium as we bid to seal a place in the FIFA World Cup for the second time in our history,” Pizzi noted. Iraq, coming off a 1-0 win against Oman, may face a setback with goalscorer Ayman Hussein hospitalized due to injury. Coach Jesus Casas is preparing alternative strategies to address any potential absences.

Meanwhile, Bahrain and Japan will aim to gain early control of Group C when they meet at Bahrain National Stadium. Bahrain achieved a historic 1-0 win over Australia in their opener, while Japan delivered a resounding 7-0 victory against China PR. Dragan Talajic, who led Bahrain to their first-ever win against Australia, knows the challenge Japan poses. Despite having defeated Japan twice in 13 encounters, Bahrain will need to continue their strong performance to advance in their quest for World Cup qualification.

The upcoming matches promise high-stakes football as teams strive to advance on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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