Dreams Crushed, UAE Calls for a Coach Change: Cosmin Olaroiu Under Fire

A World Cup Dream Dashed

The voices demanding the resignation of Romanian coach Cosmin Olăroiu grew louder after the United Arab Emirates failed to reach the 2026 World Cup playoff. The setback came with a 2-3 aggregate defeat to Iraq in the fifth and final Asian qualifying round, ending hopes of joining the global playoff.

Earlier, Olăroiu had fallen short of direct qualification from Group 1 in the third round, as the UAE still needed wins against Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in the final two matches. The pressure had been building long before the Iraq tie, with expectations of progress unfulfilled on several fronts.

Two High-Pressure Campaigns and a Coach’s Exit Hopes

Olăroiu took over the UAE national team in May 2025, replacing the then‑ousted Paulo Bento, who had guided the team to an Asian playoff berth in Qatar before stepping aside. The UAE’s failure to secure direct qualification from the Asian playoff group in Qatar followed a 2-1 win over Oman and a 1-2 defeat to Qatar, forcing a clash with Iraq in the fifth stage.

Former UAE goalkeeper Mohsen Mesbah, who played at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, weighed in: "Cosmin should not remain the UAE coach, because tests always reveal the result, and we failed to qualify—this is the test’s result."

In televised remarks, Mesbah added: "The players’ reaction and desire were strong in the first half of the away leg against Iraq, but Cosmin failed with the substitutions, and we lost with our own hands against Iraq." He continued: "We gave Iraq a steady ball and erred in dealing with it, allowing the first goal, then conceding a late‑game penalty to make it 2‑0 and seal the win for Iraq."

Yousef Azir, a former UAE midfielder, said: "The UAE still needs major football and administrative work; the next phase requires hiring a coach who can work with a forward‑looking plan."

Azir also remarked: "We squandered the dream of World Cup qualification at Cosmin’s hands; he bears primary responsibility, and thanks to the loyal UAE fans for their support—we salute them." He added bluntly: "At this level, our team doesn’t deserve the World Cup spot given the performances, despite player naturalization and the talent on hand."

Another voice, Abdulrahman Mohammed, a former UAE player from the 1990 World Cup squad, echoed the need for change: "The World Cup exit is catastrophic for UAE football, and I hope Cosmin leaves; I hadn’t been convinced by the decision to appoint him from the start." He argued for an experienced national-team coach who can plan strategically and utilize players effectively, beyond financial or club-level considerations.

After the exit, Olăroiu spoke to UAE sports channels, saying: "I took charge of the national team with an open heart because I love this country and wanted to contribute my experience to World Cup qualification." He admitted: "Unfortunately, that was not enough, and we could have controlled many things better during the Asian qualifiers, including decisions like the last‑ball moment that yielded a penalty for Iraq."

He added: "I am disappointed; we could have shown more effort on the pitch and achieved better results, especially in the second leg against Iraq. We played our best match against Iraq in the qualifiers, scoring four goals across two games, though two were ruled offside."

Olăroiu concluded: "We need a coach with a long‑term plan who can implement a clear technical and administrative vision. Exiting World Cup qualifying is a bitter pill, and Asia has eight and a half spots for the world stage, while UAE did not secure any."

In the immediate aftermath, Olăroiu acknowledged the Basra exit and reiterated his commitment: "I took responsibility with an open heart; I loved this country and aimed to help us reach the World Cup. Unfortunately, it was not enough, and there were factors beyond our control, including the final decision that awarded Iraq a penalty."

As the dust settled, former UAE player Abdulrahman Mohammed stressed the need for a coach with experience at international level who can formulate a forward‑looking plan and optimize the squad’s strengths. He insisted that the national program must move beyond sentiment and toward a sustainable strategy for the coming cycles.

Ultimately, the team’s campaign ended with a hard lesson: improvement is non‑negotiable, and leadership must reflect a new direction. The fans deserve accountability, and the federation must respond with decisive action. Humans win games; egos, not so much.

Punchline 1: If defeat were a weapon, UAE would be a sharpshooter—just not at the World Cup target. Punchline 2: Coaching? Sure. Strategy? Absolutely. But apparently our playbook forgot to include “how to win with a penatly late in the game.”