Overview
- Ali Al-Hamadi put Iraq ahead in the 10th minute before Luanzinho leveled eight minutes later from an Abdalla Ramadan cross.
- Caio Lucas had a stoppage-time finish for the UAE ruled out for a marginal offside, preserving the 1-1 scoreline.
- UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa made pivotal saves to keep the hosts level, with Iraq’s Jalal Hassan denying Ramadan early in the second half.
- The return match is set for Tuesday at Basra International Stadium, where both coaches emphasized the challenge posed by a fervent home crowd.
- Iraq last played at the World Cup in 1986 and the UAE in 1990, underscoring the generational stakes tied to progression to the Mexico playoff.