The UAE return to World Cup qualifying action on Thursday when they face Iran in Tehran.
The national team are vying for one of two automatic qualifying places in their group for the World Cup, which will be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
What needs to happen?
Sides in the six-team groups in Asia qualifying have so far played six of 10 matches.
The top two teams from the group qualify directly for the World Cup.
The third and fourth-placed teams still have a chance to make it, but the picture becomes more complicated if they don’t finish in the top two.
The next round
Six third and fourth-placed teams from the current phase of qualifying will be divided into two groups of three. The teams will play against each other once in a centralised venue. The winners of those groups qualify for the World Cup. Again, the runners-up are still not fully out of the running.
Intercontinental play-offs
The two runners-up in those three-team groups will compete home-and-away over two legs to determine Asia’s representatives at the inter-confederation play-offs.
That is a six-team tournament involving one team each from Africa, South America and Oceania, plus two from the federation of North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
How are the UAE doing?
Paulo Bento’s side are third in their group, three points behind Uzbekistan, and six behind their hosts on Thursday, Iran.
Three points behind them are Qatar, whom they thrashed 5-0 last time they were involved in qualifying action, back in November.
Is anyone through already?
Iran, who have the best World Cup pedigree of any of the sides in Asian qualifying third round Group A, are assured of advancing to the fourth round as a minimum.
They also seem highly likely to take one of the two automatic qualifying places, and would as good as confirm that if they beat the UAE.
Can UAE beat Iran and North Korea?
After an uplifting start to this phase of Asian qualifying, when they beat Qatar in Doha, the UAE’s campaign faltered slightly against the two sides they face in the current window.
Despite a courageous display in Al Ain five days after that win in Doha, Paulo Bento’s side lost by a lone goal to Iran.
They then underwhelmed against North Korea, and were held to a draw, also in Al Ain. Their morale was then lifted by a solid win over Kyrgyzstan and then a thrashing of Qatar.
Table
Team M W D L Pts
1. Iran 6 5 1 0 +7 16
2. Uzbekistan 6 4 1 1 +3 13
3. UAE 6 3 1 2 +8 10
4. Qatar 6 2 1 3 −7 7
5. Kyrgyzstan 6 1 0 5 −7 3
6. North Korea 6 0 2 4 −4 2
UAE results and fixtures
Qatar 1-3 UAE
UAE 0-1 Iran
UAE 1-1 North Korea
Uzbekistan 1-0 UAE
UAE 3-0 Kyrgyzstan
UAE 5-0 Qatar
Iran v UAE, Tehran, Thursday, March 20, 8pm kick off
North Korea v UAE, Riyadh, Tuesday, March 25, 10.30pm kick off
UAE v Uzbekistan, Thursday, June 5
Kyrgyzstan v UAE, Tuesday, June 10
How to watch
The matches will be shown live on BeIN Sports.
Squad
Paulo Bento named a 27-man extended squad ahead of the two matches, as follows: Khaled Essa, Hamad Al Muqbali, Khaled Tawhid, Ali Khaseif, Mohamed Al Attas, Lucas Pimenta, Kouame Autonne, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Alaeddine Zouhir, Zayed Sultan, Khaled Al Dhanhani, Marcus Meloni, Abdullah Idris, Yahia Nader, Mackenzie Hunt, Abdullah Ramadan, Tahnoon Al Zaabi, Essam Fayez, Yahya Al Ghassani, Harib Abdallah, Fabio De Lima, Jonatas Santos, Luan Pereira, Bruno Oliveira, Caio Lucas, Sultan Adil, Caio Canedo.
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
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Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
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Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
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When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
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2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
