Former athletes have urged the national football team to channel the spirit and identity of the 1989 squad, which earned its place in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, during the upcoming crucial qualifiers against Iraq for the 2026 World Cup.
The "White" (the UAE team's nickname) will host Iraq tomorrow at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi for the first leg, with the return match set for the 18th of this month at Basra Stadium. The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the intercontinental playoff in March 2026.
The athletes emphasized that head coach, Romanian Ilie Balaci, must abandon the overly defensive approach from the last match and find a balance between defense and attack. They also stressed the importance of good psychological preparation for the players following their frustration after the recent loss to Qatar and the squandering of a historic chance to qualify directly for the World Cup via the Asian playoff, describing the match as a "do-or-die" situation where a victory by more than one goal is necessary before traveling to Basra.
Attack and Defense Former international player Dr. Hassan Suhail called for an offensive style and to move away from the defensive tactic used against Qatar. He also warned against underestimating the Iraqi team, describing them as strong, as their goalkeeper has conceded no goals in their last two Asian playoff matches—a win over Indonesia 1-0 and a draw with Saudi Arabia.
Suhail, a former team supervisor, added: "The team must exploit the absence of several key Iraqi players and win by a two-goal margin to make their task in the return leg easier."
A Decisive Match Sports commentator and analyst Ali Hamid described the first leg against Iraq as a "do-or-die" match, stressing the importance of balanced play between defense and attack. He advised against over-defending and urged the team to be brave and secure the win, preferably by at least two goals, from the first half before the trip to Basra.
Ali Hamid added: "The significance of the first leg is that the team must settle matters before the second leg. Therefore, the coach must address the players' mentality from the start to lift their spirits after the frustration of the loss to Qatar. The second point is the importance of Balaci's tactical approach, treating this match as the most important one. They must capitalize on the weaknesses of the Iraqi team, particularly their slow defensive transitions and problems with set pieces, as most of the goals they've conceded recently came from such situations."
He continued: "The Iraqi team's strengths lie in their wing play and their ability to utilize space on the field."
The 1989 Scenario Former World Cup player Ali Sani emphasized the importance of the "White" channeling the spirit and identity of the 1989 team in Singapore, which successfully qualified for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Despite facing strong opponents back then, the team managed to achieve the feat and make a historic accomplishment for UAE football.
Ali Sani noted that the responsibility now falls on the players, as after the coach is off the pitch, they must be the ones to execute the instructions.
He added: "If this spirit is present, the team will succeed in its mission and overcome the difficult challenges."
