World Cup hopefuls United Arab Emirates will hope to push towards the two automatic qualification spots in their six-team group when they welcome Qatar to Al Nahyan Stadiumin on Tuesday in their sixth game of the AFC World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
UAE are third with seven points and are three points from second-placed Uzbekistan, while their opponents are fourth with seven points and beat Uzbekistan 3-2 on November 14.
Match preview
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The hosts emerged as 3-0 victors against Kyrgyzstan on Thursday despite creating just one big chance, though it should be noted that they were able to prevent Kyrgyzstan from creating any of their own.
UAE currently occupy one of two spots that would advance them to the fourth stage of World Cup qualifying, which would be their second-last opportunity to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup.
Boss Paulo Bento has been in charge of the Sons of Zayed since July 2023, and his side have scored seven goals and conceded four times in their five group games, and these records make them the joint sixth-best offensive and joint fifth-best defensive team of the 18 nations left in the AFC World Cup qualifiers.
Bento's side were victorious against Kyrgyzstan, but that was their first triumph in their four most recent outings, though to UAE's credit they did win four of the prior five matches.
While UAE have only won once in their last four home fixtures, they have largely been excellent on their own turf, winning eight of their last 12 games at Al Nahyan Stadiumin and losing just two times in that period.
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Qatar thoroughly outplayed Uzbekistan in the first half of their clash, taking a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval, but they only claimed all three points thanks to Lucas Mendes's winner in the 12th minute of second-half stoppage time.
Though his team found a way to overcome Uzbekistan, manager Tintin Marquez will no doubt be concerned that his side have already conceded 12 goals in just five group matches, a figure which makes them the second-worst defensive nation in the AFC World Cup qualifiers.
Marquez was upbeat in the aftermath of Qatar's win and chose to focus on the positive aspects of his players' performances, saying: "Securing these three points was crucial. We controlled the game and capitalised on our opportunities."
The Maroons are in mixed overall form having won three, lost two and drawn two of their seven most recent games, conceding 13 and netting 12 in that time, but they did prevail in the previous nine.
The visitors have been difficult to defeat on rival turf, and while the away side lost 4-1 against Iran on October 15 in their last fixture on the road, that was their only loss in their last eight away matches, with the nation winning five and drawing two of those fixtures.
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Team News
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UAE could be forced to make changes to the XI that started against Kyrgyzstan given right-back Zayed Sultan and centre-back Khalifa Al-Hammadi were substituted as a result of injury.
Kouame Autonne Kouadio is a candidate to replace Al Hammadi, while Khaled Aldhanhani may come in for Sultan.
Mackenzie Hunt and Yahia Nader are likely to start in a double pivot behind a forward line consisting of Fabio Lima, Harib Suhail, Yahya Alghassani and Caio Canedo.
Meanwhile, Qatar escaped from their game against Uzbekistan without injuries and could name a similar starting XI, so expect strikers Ahmed Al Ganehi and Almoez Ali to be supported by attacking midfielder Akram Afif.
The visitors may line up with a back three, and centre-backs Tarek Salman, Boualem Khoukhi and Lucas Mendes are probable options to feature in defence.
Elsewhere, Ibrahim Al-Hassan and Ahmed Fathy were selected to start in a double pivot, and they are likely to do so again on Tuesday.
United Arab Emirates possible starting lineup:
Eisa; Aldhanhani, Kouadio, Al Attas, Meloni; Hunt, Nader; Lima, Suhail, Alghassani; Canedo
Qatar possible starting lineup:
Barsham; Salman, Khoukhi, Mendes; Al-Rawi, Al-Hassan, Fathy, Waad; Afif; Al Ganehi, Ali
We say: United Arab Emirates 2-2 Qatar
Despite losing against Iran last time out away from home, Qatar have been strong on the road and will be confident of avoiding defeat.
However, it is difficult to overlook their poor defensive record, and it would not be surprising if UAE scored more than once in what could be an entertaining affair.
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