The UAE take on Iran on Thursday in a crunch World Cup 2026 qualifier in Tehran. A win for Paulo Bento’s side will keep the UAE in contention to qualify for the global showcase, being held in the USA, Mexico and Canada next year.
The UAE currently sit third in Group A, three points behind Uzbekistan and six points behind table-toppers Iran, with four games to play.
The top two teams from the group will qualify automatically, while the third and fourth placed teams from each group will enter into a six-team fourth round of qualifiers.
The UAE go into the match having won their last two group games against Qatar (5-0) and Kyrgyzstan (3-0).

New Zealand openers break record against England
MENA Golf Tour confirms exemption categories for 2026/27 season
Mexico bounce Czechs out of World Cup with win
South Africa beat South Korea to reach World Cup knockout stage for first time
Qatar’s Assim Madibo gets 5-game ban for injuring Canada's Ismael Kone
