The UAE national football team continues its journey in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
It will have a challenging match against Iran on Thursday, as part of the seventh round of the competition.
The UAE will face group leaders Iran on their home turf to strengthen their chances of direct qualification for the next World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the summer of 2026.
The Whites dream of securing their second-ever World Cup, after a 36-year absence since their first participation in the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
UAE’s Group Standings in the World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
- Iran leads the group with 16 points, having won five matches and drawn one.
- Uzbekistan sits in second place with 13 points from four wins, one draw, and one loss.
- UAE is in third place with 10 points, after three wins, one draw, and two losses.
- Qatar follows in fourth place with 7 points, securing only two wins and one draw in six matches, while suffering three defeats.
- Kyrgyzstan and North Korea are in fifth and sixth places with 3 points and 2 points, respectively.
How Can the UAE Get Qualified for the World Cup ?
The UAE will secure direct qualification if they win all four of their remaining matches against:
- Iran (away)
- North Korea (away)
- Uzbekistan (home)
- Kyrgyzstan (away)
The team currently has a better goal difference than all its competitors, including Iran and Uzbekistan, which could play a crucial role in qualification.
Other Qualification Scenarios:
If the UAE draws against Iran, they can still qualify if the following three conditions are met:
- They win their remaining three matches.
- Uzbekistan drops points in at least one other match.
- The UAE maintains its superior goal difference over its rivals.
Even if the UAE loses against Iran, they can still qualify if:
- They win their remaining three matches.
- Uzbekistan loses another match aside from their encounter with the UAE.
- The UAE retains a better goal difference than its competitors.
Over the next five years, the Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation aims to reach more than 500 million people in over 50 countries, including countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, building on existing charitable initiatives sponsored by the President of the UAE. pic.twitter.com/v6nG2JnF4o
— UAE Voice (@uae_voiceeng) March 20, 2025
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualification System for Asia
According to the official rules of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, if teams finish with equal points, the following tiebreakers are applied in order:
- Overall goal difference
- Goals scored
- Head-to-head points
- Head-to-head goal difference
- Head-to-head goals scored
- Away goals scored in head-to-head matches
- Fair play points
- Draw lot (if necessary)
The top two teams from each group in the third round of the Asian qualifiers will automatically qualify for 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the third and fourth-placed teams will compete in an Asian playoff, from which two teams will earn direct qualification.
The remaining two teams will face off, with the winner advancing to the intercontinental playoffs for a final chance to qualify.
