The United Arab Emirates national football team defeated Oman 2-1 in an exciting Group A match in the Asian qualifiers playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The encounter, staged at Doha’s Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, saw the UAE recover from an early setback to earn all three points and begin their campaign on a winning note.
Oman opened aggressively, pressing high and taking the lead in the 12th minute when UAE defender Kwame Kweido accidentally turned the ball into his own goal. The early goal enabled Oman to dominate possession and dictate the tempo in the first half. The UAE’s efforts suffered another blow when winger Yahya Al Ghassani was forced off with an injury in the 32nd minute, causing head coach Cosmin Olăroiu to make an early substitution.
After halftime, tactical tweaks infused new vigour into the UAE team. Harib Abdalla and Caio Canedo created constant pressure on Oman’s defence. Milos Miloni equalised in the 76th minute, followed by Caio Lucas’ amazing long-range strike in the 83rd minute to complete the comeback. Goalkeeper Khalid Eisa made crucial saves in stoppage time, securing the UAE’s perfect start to the playoff stage.
