Emirates Cup Round of 16 Kicks Off Without Derby Clashes
23 October 2025
Round of 16 opens without derby clashes
The UAE President's Cup Round of 16 kicks off Friday evening with two standout fixtures: United visiting Sharjah and Al Dhafra hosting Al Wahda, both staged at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The schedule continues on Saturday with three more ties as Shabab Al Ahli host Al Bateeh at Khalifa bin Mohammed Stadium, Khorfakkan welcome Kalba, and Bani Yas meet Al Nasr at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
Sunday's program features Al Ain against Hamriyah, Al Wasl vs Dibba, and Ajman facing Al Jazeera at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, rounding out the round of 16 lineup.
There are no derby clashes on the opening day, with United's visit to Sharjah and the other matches pitting mid-table teams against potential upsets on a knockout night of high stakes.
Sharjah's coach Milos Milosevic underscored the cup's importance and the need for a strong start after a difficult Elite Pro Cup result, noting the challenge of a well-organized United side with a mix of experienced and promising players.
He added that cup ties do not respect reputations and that focus, discipline, and gradual progress are essential to reach the later rounds.
United's coach framed the fixture as a decisive test that will reveal the team's mental fortitude and unity, stressing belief, system, and a battling mindset to win every ball.
Sharjah defender Majed Suroor spoke about the cup's value and the hope to recover from prior results, while calling for fan support to push the team through to the quarterfinals.
United's Tariq Ahmed described the moment as historic for the club, highlighting the significance of reaching the knockout stages for the first time and the need to continue advancing and proving their worth against stronger sides.
Al Dhafra's Facundo Daniel cautioned that the cup's intensity demands tactical discipline and composure, even as players relish the chance to test themselves against top-level opposition.
Al Wahda's Jose Morais stressed the frequent match rhythm, noting the physical and technical demands of playing every few days and the importance of maintaining performance levels through the rounds.
The preview also highlighted Al Ain's trip to Hamriyah, Al Wasl's challenge against Dibba, and Ajman vs Al Jazeera as tests of form and character as teams chase a place in the quarterfinals.
As coaches and players look ahead, supporters hope to witness competitive, entertaining football that delivers surprises and keeps the Emirates Cup as the marquee domestic knockout competition.
Punchline: If this weekend’s football were a sniper’s joke, the goal would be so close you’d still miss the headline—then again, who needs headlines when the scoreboard does the talking?
Punchline 2: And if the Emirates Cup had a sense of humor, it would show up wearing a whistle and still call everything a foul to keep us guessing.
