Overview
- The UAE’s World Cup bid ended with a 2-1 loss to Iraq in Basra after a stoppage‑time penalty awarded on VAR review for a Yahya Nader handball, following a 1-1 first leg in Abu Dhabi.
- Officials confirmed coach Olaroiu Cosmin will continue, with an internal camp in Dubai before the squad flies to Doha on Friday for the Arab Cup.
- The UAE is drawn in Group C to face Jordan on December 3 and Egypt on December 6, plus the winner of Kuwait vs. Mauritania, in a tournament running December 1–18 in Qatar.
- Cosmin’s upcoming roster is expected to largely mirror the recent World Cup qualifying squad with only minor changes due to limited preparation time.
- Local analysis highlighted recurring high‑pressure mistakes by key players such as Yahya Nader, Khalifa Al Hammadi, and Kwame Kodjo, while some coaching voices credited Cosmin’s tactical solutions despite the elimination.