Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Uzbekistan has officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup for the first time in its history, a feat secured after a 0-0 draw against the united Arab Emirates (UAE) at Al Nahyan Stadium. The match,part of the Asian qualifiers,saw Uzbekistan raise its score to 18 points,placing them second in Group A behind Iran,who had already secured their qualification.

For the UAE, known as “Al-Abyad” (The Whites), the draw significantly dampened their hopes of direct qualification. The team now sits in third place with 14 points, facing a challenging path through the playoffs scheduled for October.

The Decisive Match: A Breakdown

• UAE’s Missed Prospect: Al-Abyad needed a victory to keep their direct qualification hopes alive. A win would have allowed them to perhaps overtake Uzbekistan, provided they also defeated Kyrgyzstan in the final round and Qatar defeated Uzbekistan.
• Uzbekistan’s Strategy: The Uzbek team’s defensive solidity proved crucial, denying the UAE’s attackers any clear-cut chances.
• Cosmin’s Debut: The match marked Cosmin’s first mission with Al-Abyad, deploying a lineup featuring Khaled Issa in goal, a defense of Khaled Al-Dhanhani, Lucas Pimanta, Kwami, and marcus Meloni, a midfield of Majid Hassan, Abdullah Ramadan, and Queen Pereira, and an attack led by Ali Saleh, Fabio Lima, and Kayo Lucas.

First Half Stalemate

The first half was largely uneventful, confined mainly to midfield battles. Despite the UAE holding a slight possession advantage (51.2% compared to Uzbekistan’s 48.8%), they struggled to create meaningful opportunities. The Uzbek goalkeeper, Oktir Yusobov, remained largely untested.

Early attempts by Fabio Lima in the sixth minute were easily handled by Yusobov. the UAE faced difficulties penetrating Uzbekistan’s organized defense, forcing players like Lima, Ali Saleh, and Dhuan Pereira to drop deep to receive the ball.

Uzbekistan was forced into an early substitution in the 13th minute when Austin Oronov was injured,replaced by Fizolaev. Fizolaev later initiated a dangerous attack, penetrating the left flank and delivering a cross that was cleared by the UAE defense in the 26th minute.

A late first-half free-kick for the UAE, taken by Ali Saleh after a foul on Caio Lucas, posed no threat, sailing wide of the post in the 38th minute.

Second Half Action and Near Misses

Uzbekistan emerged stronger in the second half, with Fesolaev nearly scoring with a header that struck the crossbar in the 54th minute.

UAE coach Kozmin responded with substitutions, bringing on Bayhai Al-Ghassani, Kayo Kaneido, and Harib Abdullah for Ali Saleh, Fabio Lima, and Talwan Pereira, respectively, in an attempt to inject more attacking impetus.

the UAE’s best chance came in the 70th minute when Fabio Lima’s left-footed shot from the edge of the area was saved by Yusubov. The 70th minute witnessed the most dangerous chances of “Al -Abyad” in the match after the ball reached Fabio Lima on the borders of the area and hit his left, saved by the Uzbek team goalkeeper.

Despite late pressure, the UAE struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. A late shot from Yahya Al-Ghassani in added time was comfortably saved by Yusubov, sealing the draw.

Regional Qualifier Results

In other Asian qualifier matches:

• Group B: Jordan defeated host Amman 3-0, raising their total to 16 points, while Oman remained at 10 points.
• Group C: Australia beat Japan 1-0, Indonesia edged out China 1-0, and Saudi Arabia defeated Bahrain 2-0. Japan leads the group with 20 points, followed by Australia (16), saudi Arabia (13), Indonesia (12), Bahrain (6), and China (6). Japan has secured its World Cup qualification.

Looking Ahead: UAE’s Playoff Path

With direct qualification out of reach, the UAE must now focus on the playoff route. The team will need to regroup and prepare for the challenges ahead in October to keep their World Cup dreams alive.