Moroccan Roots, a Fresh Face for UAE’s National Team
5 November 2025
Squad Update and Road to Iraq Playoffs
In a move that keeps the United Arab Emirates’ World Cup hopes alive, the UAE Football Association announced a 26-man squad for a final camp under Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu. The team will train in Dubai before the two‑leg playoff with Iraq, with the first leg set for November 13 in Abu Dhabi and the return on November 18 in Basra.
The UAE and Iraq are battling for a single Asian slot into the global playoff path that leads to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Excluding Fahd Al‑Dhanhani, the goalkeeping options are Khaled Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), and Hamad Al‑Maqbali (Shabab Al‑Ahli).
The squad also features Robin Philip, Lucas Pimenta, Alaa‑Din Zouhir, Kaio Lucas (Al Wasl), Khalifa Al Hamadi, Richard Acunor, Mohammed Rabia, Abdullah Ramadan, and Bruno Oliveira (Al Jazira).
Other named players include Kwami Kwido, Yahya Nader, Marcos Miloni, Khaled Al‑Dhanhani, Luan Pereira, Harib Abdullah, Majed Rashid (Sharjah), Gaston Suarez, Sultan Adel, Yahya Al‑Ghassani (Shabab Al‑Ahli), Nicolas Jimenez, and Ali Saleh (Al Wasl).
Also included is Mohammed Awadallah from Lechia Gdansk in Poland, recalled to the UAE squad, along with Gaston Suarez and Majed Rashid, and Mohammed Rabia from Al Jazira, returning after gaining UAE citizenship five years ago.
Injury news: Eric Menezes of Al Ain and Fabio Lima of Al Wasl were ruled out with groin and hamstring injuries, sidelining them for four to six weeks and effectively ruling them out of the Iraq matches.
The team will begin the camp in Dubai tonight, then move to Abu Dhabi for the first leg at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and proceed to Basra for the return match. The winner advances to the Asian playoff path toward a World Cup berth.
Context: UAE’s World Cup Qualifiers Journey
In the Asian qualifying rounds, the UAE began Round 2 in Group 8 with Nepal, Bahrain, and Yemen. The Whites earned wins against Nepal (4-0 in both meetings), Yemen (2-1 and 3-0), and Bahrain (2-0), while drawing 1-1 in a stalemate with Bahrain, finishing atop the group with 16 points, five clear of Bahrain, and advancing to Round 3.
In Round 3, Group 1, the UAE posted a 3-1 and 5-0 win over Kyrgyzstan, defeated South Korea 2-1, but were beaten by Iran (0-1, 0-2) and Uzbekistan (0-1). Draws with Korea (1-1), Uzbekistan (0-0), and Kyrgyzstan (1-1) left them third behind Iran and Uzbekistan, earning a place in the Asian playoff with Qatar, who finished fourth and hosted the playoff phase in Asia.
The UAE then beat Oman 2-1 in the playoff opener, but Qatar won 2-1 in the return, ending UAE’s direct World Cup hopes and sending Qatar through to the next stage. UAE now eyes the intercontinental playoff path to reach the 2026 World Cup.
Cosmin Olaroiu has led the UAE in eight matches (five wins, one loss, two draws), scoring 13 goals and conceding seven, with two clean sheets. He continues to rely on veteran pillars like Khaled Essa, along with Kaio Lucas, Ali Saleh, and Lucas Pereira—players who recently gained UAE citizenship to reinforce the squad.
Mohammed Awadallah’s recall from Lechia Gdansk adds European experience, complemented by Gaston Suarez and Majed Rashid. The squad also includes Nicolas Jimenez and Ali Saleh from Al Wasl, with Mohammed Rabia earning his first call after five years of UAE citizenship. The absence of Eric Menezes and Fabio Lima due to injuries will force adjustments as the White eyes the Iraq matches and a potential World Cup berth.
With the schedule tight, UAE’s preparations continue as they aim to make a bold statement in Dubai and Basra, continuing a journey that could redefine the nation’s footballing arc for 2026 and beyond.
Punchline 1: If UAE qualify, the press conference will need its own extra legs—because the questions will run longer than the flight to the World Cup.
Punchline 2: In football, even a Moroccan-born star can become a UAE hero—talk about a plot twist that even cinema would envy, and yes, the passport stamps help with the luggage at the airport parity test.
