United_Arab_Emirates_national_football_team

United Arab Emirates national football team

United Arab Emirates national football team

Men's association football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see United Arab Emirates women's national football team.

The Emirates national football team (Arabic: منتخب الإمَارَاتُ الْعَرَبِيَّةُ الْمُتَّحِدَة لِكُرَّةُ الْقَدَم) represents United Arab Emirates in international football and serves under the auspices of the country's Football Association.

Quick Facts Nickname(s), Association ...

It has made one World Cup appearance in 1990 in Italy and lost all three of its games. United Arab Emirates took fourth place in the 1992 AFC Asian Cup and runner-up in 1996 as host. It won the Arabian Gulf Cup in 2007 and 2013. It finished third in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and hosted the 2019 edition in which it was eliminated in the semi-finals.

History

The first match of the team was played 69 of the donkey iMarch 1972 against Qatar at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium and won with the only goal scored by Ahmed Chowbi. Then, the team faced three other Arabian countries, losing 4–0 and 7–0 to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait respectively and beating Bahrain 3 to nothing. After participating in four Gulf Cup tournaments since 1972, United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosted the 1982 edition. It again finished third as did in the two previous tournaments.

In 1980, United Arab Emirates first-time qualified for the AFC Asian Cup which was held in Kuwait and were drawn with eventual winners, Kuwait, runner-up South Korea, Malaysia and Qatar in Group B. It drew 1–1 with Kuwait and lost the three other matches and finished in fifth place in the group and ninth (out of ten teams) overall. It also qualified for the next two tournaments, 1984 in Singapore and 1988 in Qatar and was again eliminated in the group stages in both. Its first victory of the tournament occurred against India on 7 December 1984, under manager Heshmat Mohajerani.

In 1984, Mohajerani resigned and was replaced with Carlos Alberto Parreira. Parreira led the team at the 1988 Asian Cup and left his position after the tournament. He was succeeded by Mário Zagallo. Zagallo led the team to the qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. However, Zagallo resigned before the tournament and Parreira returned. The team finished fourth at the 1990 World Cup's final tournament with no points, scoring two goals and conceding 11 goals. The journey was put into a 2016 documentary titled Lights of Rome.[2] After the tournament, Parreira was sacked.

At the 1992 and 1996 AFC Asian Cups, United Arab Emirates finished fourth and second respectively for the first times. United Arab Emirates appeared in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup after being awarded a spot because Saudi Arabia was hosting the games.

United Arab Emirates missed the qualification for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup in Lebanon and finished in last place at the 2002 Arabian Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia. It was eliminated in the next three Asian Cup tournaments at the group stage. In 2004 and 2007 editions, UAE was all eliminated by the hand to debutants Jordan and Vietnam. In 2011, it finished the tournament goalless. At this time, United Arab Emirates appointed world class coaches like Carlos Queiroz, Roy Hodgson and Dick Advocaat. In 2006, UAE appointed Bruno Metsu as the new manager. He led the Emirates to carry the 2007 Arabian Gulf Cup title.

After hiring foreign coaches, in 2012, United Arab Emirates appointed the Olympic team coach Mahdi Ali as the manager of the senior team. Ali began creating a squad inviting players that he had worked with at the youth level. He led the Emirates to their second Arabian Gulf Cup title in 2013. At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, United Arab Emirates defeated Qatar 4–1 and Bahrain 2–1 and lost to Iran by a goal. As group runner-up, it faced the defending champions Japan in the quarter-final and earned a victory on penalties to advance to the last four. In the semi-finals, it lost 2–0 to the host Australia. In the third-place play-off, it beat Iraq 3–2. United Arab Emirates qualified through the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification where it finished fourth in Group B thus failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Ahmed Khalil was a top scorer in the qualification. Around this time Mahdi Ali resigned from his position.[3]

United Arab Emirates then hosted the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, this marked the second time they hosted an AFC Asian Cup. The team had Italian Alberto Zaccheroni as their coach. In the AFC Asian Cup tournament, UAE proceeded to the quarter-finals where it scored its first-ever goal against Australia to gain its first-ever win against this opponent.[4] The semi-finals was between the host and Qatar.[5] Some audiences threw footwear in the pitch after Qatar scored its second goal. UAE lost 0–4 marking its first defeat to Qatar since 2001.

United Arab Emirates joined the second round of 2022 World Cup qualifiers and was placed with all-out Southeast Asian opponents. The team had already appointed the Dutch guider Bert van Marwijk. Bert was sacked after his start undergoing two away losses to Thailand and Vietnam in the qualifiers along his group stage exit in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup.[6] After this, the Emirates decided to naturalize Argentine Sebastián Tagliabúe, Brazilian Caio Canedo Corrêa and Fábio Virginio de Lima, the three South American players, having never done so since the foundation of the national team.[7] The team then experienced a period of coaching instabilities, with three different coaches, before van Marwijk resumed his duty due to crisis in option. With the COVID-19 pandemic however, the AFC decided the remaining games of the second round would be played in one country,[8][9] and with the UAE chosen to host Group G, they were able to utilize the home-field advantage as the host nation, ultimately u-turned the earlier misery into four consecutive wins to break through into the third round, where they faced its neighbours and the powerhouses Iran and South Korea.[10] In the third round, the UAE failed to produce a promising performance after winning just one out of six first games, a 1–0 away win over Lebanon, drew three and lost two, adding with the UAE's below average performance in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup despite reaching the quarter-finals, that was enough to sack the Dutch manager van Marwijk yet again.[11][12][13] After inconsistency in performance, the UAE appointed Argentine manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena as coach, and the team's result improved, winning two out of four games, notably an impressive 1–0 home win over already-qualified South Korea, to reach the fourth round, increased hope for the country to qualify for the first-ever World Cup since 1990, where they would face the old foe Australia, whom the UAE defeated in the latest meeting.[14] However, the UAE was unable to utilise their geographical advantage in the playoff in neighbouring Qatar, losing 1–2 to Australia by a thunderous strike at 84' by Ajdin Hrustic to deny the UAE's its potential second appearance; they later stunned South America's rising power Peru to qualify for the edition.[15]

Rivalries

UAE's common rivals are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Iran.[16]

Qatar

Main article: Qatar–United Arab Emirates football rivalry

The rivalry with Qatar is a competitive one in the Arabian Gulf Cup meeting in multiple occasions, due to Qatar diplomatic crisis, increasing tensions had been witnessed, with the captain of UAE under-19 youth team refused to shake hands with Qatar's youth captain in 2018 AFC U-19 Championship held in Indonesia; in this tournament, the UAE beat Qatar 2–1 but still crashed out from the group stage while Qatar would recover to qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[17] As of 2020, Qatar and UAE have played 31 official matches, most of which was held competitively in the Arabian Gulf Cup, it started off with the United Arab Emirates beating Qatar 1–0. They only played 2 friendly games and the last friendly was held in 2011 which ended with an Emirati victory. In the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, hosted by the UAE, Qatar overran the UAE for the first time since 2001 with the result 4–0, with heavy tensions and violence occurred between two and Emirati supporters cheering anti-Qatari chants.[18]

Saudi Arabia

Another major rival the UAE takes on Arabian Gulf Cup many times, the two teams have met in the AFC Asian Cup twice, first in the semi-finals of the 1992 edition which ended in a Saudi victory and second in the final of the 1996 edition in which UAE hosted, the game ended in a goalless draw which meant the game had to be decided in penalties, the game ended with Saudi Arabia taking home their 3rd title with the penalty scoreline being 4–2, this remains the only time the Emirates qualified for the final meanwhile this would also be the last time the Saudis would win an Asian Cup as they would lose the next two finals they qualified for in 2000 and 2007. When the countries meet in qualifier matches, the matchup has been nicknamed "clash of titans" as both countries have been some of the more successful teams in the Arabian Peninsula.[19]

Team image

Kit

Wikimedia Commons has media related to United Arab Emirates national football team kits.

The UAE's traditional home kit is all-white with some red trim while their away kit is all-red with some white trim, in 2019, the away colors were black for the first time in addition, there were some green trim.

More information Manufacturer, Period ...

Nickname

The United Arab Emirates is known by supporters and the media as Al-Abyad, meaning The Whites which reference to their white jersey and also Eyal Zayed which means Zayed's sons.

In October 2012, the Asian Football Confederation official website published an article about the UAE national team's campaign to qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, in which the team was referred to using the racial slur "sand monkey". This was the indirect result of vandalism of the Wikipedia article on the team, and the AFC was forced to apologise.[21]

Home stadium

As of 2022, UAE has played in 12 home stadiums. Most games have taken place at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi with Abu Dhabi's Al Jazira Stadium and Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain as other venues.

More information Home stadiums list, Image ...

Results and fixtures

Main article: United Arab Emirates national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

12 September 2023 Friendly Costa Rica  1–4  United Arab Emirates Zagreb, Croatia
17:00 UTC+2
  • Cascante 64'
 Report
Stadium: Maksimir Stadium
Referee: Ante Čulina (Croatia)
12 October 2023 Friendly United Arab Emirates  1–0  Kuwait Dubai, United Arab Emirates
21:00 UTC+4
Report Stadium: Al Maktoum Stadium
Referee: Ibrahim Nour (Egypt)
17 October 2023 Friendly United Arab Emirates  2–1  Lebanon Dubai, United Arab Emirates
20:00 UTC+4
Report
Stadium: Al Maktoum Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Adel (Egypt)
16 November 2023 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification United Arab Emirates  4–0    Nepal Dubai, United Arab Emirates
19:45 UTC+4
Report Stadium: Al Maktoum Stadium
Attendance: 3,640
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
21 November 2023 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Bahrain  0–2  United Arab Emirates Riffa, Bahrain
21:15 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Bahrain National Stadium
Attendance: 18,267
Referee: Mohammed Al Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
30 December 2023 Friendly United Arab Emirates  1–0  Kyrgyzstan Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
19:15 UTC+4
Report Stadium: Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium
Referee: Sami Ahmed (Saudi Arabia)

2024

6 January 2024 Unofficial Friendly United Arab Emirates  0–1  Oman Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
19:15 UTC+4 Report
Stadium: Al Nahyan Stadium
Referee: Abdulla Al-Shehri (Saudi Arabia)
14 January 2024 Asian Cup United Arab Emirates  3–1  Hong Kong Al Rayyan, Qatar
17:30 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium
Attendance: 15,586
Referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
18 January 2024 Asian Cup Palestine  1–1  United Arab Emirates Al Wakrah, Qatar
20:30 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium
Attendance: 41,986
Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)
23 January 2024 Asian Cup Iran  2–1  United Arab Emirates Al Rayyan, Qatar
18:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Education City Stadium
Attendance: 34,259
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
28 January 2024 Asian Cup R16 Tajikistan  1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)		  United Arab Emirates Al Rayyan, Qatar
19:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
Penalties
21 March 2024 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification United Arab Emirates  2–1  Yemen Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
22:00 UTC+4
Report
Stadium: Al Nahyan Stadium
Attendance: 2,948
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Sarray (Iraq)
26 March 2024 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Yemen  0–3  United Arab Emirates Khobar, Saudi Arabia
22:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City
Attendance: 1,135
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
6 June 2024 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Nepal    v  United Arab Emirates Kathmandu, Nepal
--:-- UTC+5:45 Report Stadium: Dasharath Rangasala
11 June 2024 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification United Arab Emirates  v  Bahrain United Arab Emirates
--:-- UTC+4 Report Stadium: TBA

Current staff

Main article: List of United Arab Emirates national football team managers

Last Update: November 2023[22]

More information Position, Name ...

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification games against  Yemen on 21 and 26 March 2024..[23]

Caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2024, after the match against  Yemen.

More information No., Pos. ...

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the last 12 months.

More information Pos., Player ...

List of UAE squads

Player records

As of 30 December 2023[24]
Players in bold are still active with United Arab Emirates.

Most appearances

Adnan Al-Talyani is United Arab Emirates' most capped player with 161 appearances.
More information Rank, Player ...

Top goalscorers

Ali Mabkhout is United Arab Emirates' top scorer with 85 goals.
More information Rank, Player ...

Competitive record

  Champion    Runners-up    Third place  

More information Overview, Event ...

FIFA World Cup

Main article: United Arab Emirates at the FIFA World Cup
More information FIFA World Cup, Qualification ...
More information First Match, Biggest Win ...

AFC Asian Cup

Main article: United Arab Emirates at the AFC Asian Cup
More information AFC Asian Cup, Qualification record ...
More information First Match, Biggest Win ...

FIFA Confederations Cup

More information FIFA Confederations Cup, Year ...

Asian Games

More information Asian Games, Year ...

West Asian Football Federation Championship

More information WAFF Championship record, Year ...

Gulf Cup

More information Gulf Cup, Year ...

FIFA Arab Cup

More information FIFA Arab Cup, Year ...

Arab Games

More information Arab Games, Year ...

Other Tournaments

More information Other, Year ...

Head-to-head record

See also: United Arab Emirates national football team all-time record

As of 26 March 2024[25]

More information Opponent, Pld ...
  1. Includes matches against  West Germany.
  2. Includes matches against  Yugoslavia.
  3. Includes matches against  North Yemen.

Honours

Continental Competitions

Regional Competitions

Minor Competitions

Notes

    References

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      "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
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    3. [3]
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      "Australia out of Asian Cup as UAE pounce on Milos Degenek error". TheGuardian.com. 25 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
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      "AFC Asian Cup: UAE-Qatar match tickets sell like hot cakes". Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
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      "AFC confirm hub venues for 2022 World Cup qualifiers". ESPN.com. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
    9. [9]
      "AFC announces centralized World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers with Arab nations hosting five groups". Arab News PK. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
    10. [10]
      McAuley, John (15 June 2021). "UAE advance to 2022 World Cup qualification third round after crucial win over Vietnam". The National. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
    11. [11]
      "Group A: UAE beat Lebanon for first win". Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
    12. [12]
      "UAE crash out of Fifa Arab Cup with 5-0 quarter-final defeat in Qatar". 11 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
    13. [13]
      "Dutchman van Marwijk fired as UAE coach for second time". Reuters. 12 February 2022. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
    14. [14]
      "Football: UAE stun South Korea to earn World Cup playoff with Australia | the Straits Times". 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
    15. [15]
      "United Arab Emirates 1-2 Australia: World Cup 2022 qualifying playoff – as it happened". TheGuardian.com. 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
    16. [16]
      Dorsey, James M. (29 July 2013). "Gulf rivalry between Iran, UAE transferred to the football pitch". Hurriyet Daily. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
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      "Political tension spills on the pitch between UAE and Qatar in AFC U19". foxnews. 18 October 2018. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
    18. [18]
      "UAE fans throw shoes and bottles at "Qatari" players". 27 January 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
    19. [19]
      Prashant, N. D. "UAE take on Saudi Arabia in clash of titans". gulfnews.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
    20. [20]
      "old united arab emirates football shirts". oldfootballshirts. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
    21. [21]
      Bailey, Ryan (15 October 2012). "Asian Football Confederation apologize for calling UAE national team 'Sand Monkeys'". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
    22. [22]
      Officials
    23. [23]
      "Final Registration" (PDF). The AFC.
    24. [24]
      Roberto Mamrud; Karel Stokkermans. "United Arab Emirates – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    25. [25]
      "World Football Elo Ratings: United Arab Emirates". Eloratings.net. 5 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
    26. [26]
      "Friendship Tournament 2000 (UAE)". Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
    27. [27]
      "Oman International Tournament 2000". Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
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