The UAE Football Association held a coordination meeting on Sunday at its headquarters in Dubai with the National Team Supporters Association and representatives of club associations to discuss arrangements for fan attendance for the national team's match against Iraq, scheduled for November 13th at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as part of the first leg of the Asian playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. At the same time, fans emphasized that "the team is strong... and the World Cup dream still exists."The meeting, attended by the fan work team, covered many organizational and media aspects related to fan entry, distribution of flags and banners, and coordinating the associations' sections in the stands to ensure a powerful and significant presence to support "Al-Abyad" (the team's nickname) in this crucial encounter.The meeting also confirmed the continuation of the "National Dream" campaign, recently launched by the Association, which has seen wide engagement from various community segments through a series of innovative fan initiatives, most notably using flags, scarves, and expressive signs that reflect a sense of belonging and support for the national team.The UAE national team will face Iraq in the second leg of the Asian playoff, which will determine qualification for the final stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The return leg will be held on November 18th in Basra."Al-Abyad" seeks to restore its balance under the leadership of Romanian coach Olaru Cosmin, hoping to take a step closer to the World Cup dream, especially as the team features a select group of young talents and experienced players on whom it relies to achieve a positive result on home soil and in front of its fans.A number of fans stated in comments to "Al-Ittihad" that "supporting the team is a national duty," and that "the fans will be behind Al-Abyad in its mission against Iraq."Fan Marwan Muhammad said: "Some fans say the dream is over, but the truth is, the dream still exists. We have two matches against Iraq, the team is strong and capable of making a comeback. We will fight until the last minute."He added: "Whoever carries the flag of the UAE and wears its jersey must fight until the end, and the fans will always be the team's first supporter under any circumstances."Fan Saleh Al-Mansouri said: "We have a team capable of reaching the World Cup, and we will stand behind it until the World Cup dream is realized, and we will prove that Al-Abyad can go far in the qualifiers."Fan Yousuf Al-Balushi continued: "The dream of a nation is to support and encourage the players for 90 minutes. On Thursday (the 13th), the stadium must be full to cheer on the players, urging them to give their all. Hope exists, and the team is capable of winning and advancing to the next stage."
