The loss to Qatar shocked us, but we have to get back on our feet. Pain is the best teacher in life. Iraq is a strong and organized team, and facing them won't be easy. Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu confirmed that the UAE team is in a very important stage on its path to achieving its dream of qualifying for the World Cup. In this new stage, they will face a strong and organized team — the Iraqi team. Cosmin said at a press conference before the match. The UAE and Iraq teams will play on Thursday at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in the first leg of the Asian playoff. The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to a new global playoff. The UAE team missed the chance to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup after losing to Qatar.
