Radio Shoma

Club Shoma
Parvaaz (Remix)
Arian Band

Listen To Radio Shoma 93.4

UAE to host Iraq for 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Thursday, 13 November 2025 at 06:30

By ARN News Staff

AFP

The UAE national football team will be hosting their Iraqi counterparts in Abu Dhabi on Thursday for the first leg of the Asian play-off rounds to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The match will be held at 8:00 pm, located at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

The second leg is set to proceed between the two teams on November 18 at 8:00 pm at Basra’s International Stadium in Iraq.

The winner between the two-legged tie will be able to earn a spot in March’s Inter-Confederation play-offs, marking a step closer to reaching the World Cup.

Both nations are playing to reach what would be their second World Cup, with Iraq only having featured at Mexico in 1986 and the UAE four years later in Italy.

More from Sport

Luiten leads the way at DP World Tour Championship

Joost Luiten fired his lowest round at the Earth Course since 2016 to earn a one-shot lead over Jacob Skov Olesen after the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Jake Paul hails Dubai as "perfect place" for Christmas Eve comeback fight

Jake Paul says Dubai is the "perfect place" to mount his professional fighting comeback against Cedric Doumbe on December 24.
Derron and Taylor-Brown renew T100 title fight in Dubai

Three points separate Julie Derron and Georgia Taylor-Brown in the T100 Race to Qatar, and on Saturday they meet at Al Mamzar, Dubai in the last race that counts before next month’s World Championship Final.
Manchester United sack Carrick, talks ongoing for Pochettino

Manchester United have dismissed manager Michael Carrick after a prolonged winless run in the Premier League culminated in a 4-4 draw at home to Aston Villa over the weekend, leaving the club mired in the relegation zone.
Ferdinand admits doubts over Pochettino's impact on Manchester United

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand admits he has doubts over whether Mauricio Pochettino has what it takes to turn things around at Old Trafford.

News

14 dead, 30 injured in Fujairah traffic accident
Fourteen people have died and 30 others have been injured following a major traffic accident in Fujairah, according to an update from the UAE Ministry of Interior.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed issues law defining Dubai Municipality's mandate
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued a law defining Dubai Municipality's mandate to build a future-ready city.
Sharjah reopens beaches to the public after tanker oil spill
Beaches in Sharjah have reopened to the public, with authorities confirming that an offshore oil spill involving a tanker in October has been contained.