Iraq and the United Arab Emirates find themselves at a pivotal moment in their pursuit of a spot in the 2026 World Cup, with their fates hanging in the balance during a two-game series in the fifth round of Asian qualification. The opening match will take place in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, followed by a return leg in Basra, Iraq, next Tuesday.
This matchup is critical for both teams, as the winner will advance to FIFA’s intercontinental playoffs in March, where two coveted places in the expanded 48-team World Cup will be available. Iraq’s coach Graham Arnold emphasized the importance of securing a World Cup berth as a historic goal for the nation, noting that it would be Iraq’s first appearance in the tournament since 1986. Arnold, who previously led Australia to the round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup, expressed his commitment to guiding the team through this crucial stage.
Earlier qualification rounds were challenging for both Iraq and the UAE. In the third round of qualifiers, they placed third in their respective groups, failing to secure automatic qualification; similarly, they fell short in the fourth round, finishing behind Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who both earned World Cup spots.
Arnold has voiced concerns about the advantages that fellow competitors Qatar and Saudi Arabia had during qualification, particularly regarding home support and rest days between matches. He believes that the anticipated turnout of 60,000 fans in Basra for the return leg could play a significant role in boosting the team’s chances.
UAE coach Cosmin Olaroiu shares Arnold’s frustrations but has urged his players to shift their focus to the upcoming match. He underscores the importance of embracing the opportunity to qualify and the necessity for the team to perform at its best against Iraq, with a crowd of around 36,000 expected at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
As Asia has eight automatic places allocated for the World Cup, teams like Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Jordan have already secured their spots, joined recently by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The stakes are high as Iraq and the UAE look to capitalize on this rare opportunity, reigniting hopes for their respective footballing futures on the global stage.