Overview
- The national team closed its Dubai camp and begins the final preparation phase in Abu Dhabi before hosting Iraq on Thursday at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, with the return set for November 18 in Basra.
- Olario Cosmin’s 26-player list features first-time call-up Mohamed Rabie and returns for Majed Rashid, Gaston Suarez and Mohammed Awad, while Fahad Al Dhanhani, Majid Hassan and Sil Souza are omitted.
- Recent sessions focused on correcting issues from the Oman and Qatar ties, with the full squad now in after club commitments as Cosmin refines lineup choices and the game plan.
- Former goalkeeper-coach Motaz Abdullah urged Cosmin to assert a clear tactical identity and rebuild confidence, and he views Mohammed Awad as the most ready option to cover Fabio de Lima’s reported injury absence.
- In First Division action, Daba Al Hosn beat United 2–0 through Ikasha Hamzaoui and Lars Veldwijk to go top and hand Andrea Pirlo his first loss of the season, while Fujairah beat Masfoot 5–3, Hatta topped Gulf United 4–1, and Al Arabi edged Al Jazira Al Hamra 1–0.