UAE's route to the World Cup now set

AFP

Any hope of the UAE securing an automatic World Cup spot in Qatar this November was finally extinguished on Tuesday evening with a 1-0 defeat away against Iran.

That loss and South Korea's 2-0 victory against Syria means the UAE will have to face a series of play-offs if they are to reach the finals for the first time since 1990.

With Lebanon lurking 3 points behind the Whites in 4th spot in Group A, the team know what they need to do in the last two matches of group qualification next month. 

They'll be eyeing a win in the first fixture away against Iraq - they then finish off with a home tie against the South Koreans. 

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