The technical staff of the UAE national football team has announced the new squad list in preparation for two matches against Iraq on November 13 and 18. These matches are part of the Asian playoff qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The first leg will be held at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, while the second leg will take place at the Basra International Stadium in Iraq.
The new squad includes 26 players. The core structure of the team that participated in last October's camp and played against Oman and Qatar has been maintained. Four new players have been called up to the national team for the first time: defender Mohammed Rabih (Al Jazira), Gaston Suarez (Shabab Al Ahli), Majed Rashid (Al Sharjah), and forward Mohammed Awadallah (Lechia Gdansk, Poland). At the same time, the team has retained most of its key players in goal, defense, and attack.
Several players from the previous stage were absent from the list. Notably, goalkeeper Fahad Al Dhanhani (Bani Yas) was not included, as the coaching staff decided to stick with the trio of Khalid Eisa, Ali Khaif, and Hamad Al Makbali in goal. Defender Eric de Menezes (Al Ain), as well as midfielders Sil Suza (Al Qadsia), Majed Hassan (Al Sharjah), and Faiço de Lima (Al-Wasl), who was sidelined by an injury sustained with his club in the league, were also left out of the squad.
The call-up of new faces is part of the coaching staff's strategy to reinforce certain positions with more ready players, while also giving opportunities to a number of young players who have delivered outstanding performances with their clubs in the recent rounds of the ADNOC Pro League, especially given the packed match schedule and forced absences due to injuries.
Full squad list: Khalid Eisa, Ali Khaif, Hamad Al Makbali, Robin Felipe, Richard O'Connor, Lucas Pimenta, Kwame Kwadwo, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Alaeddine Zouhir, Marcus Meloni, Khalid Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Rabih, Yahya Nader, Abdullah Ramadan, Luan Pereira, Majed Rashid, Gaston Suarez, Nicolas Jimenez, Ali Saeed, Harib Abdullah, Yahya Al Ghannati, Bruno Oliveira, Caio Lucas, Caio Canedo, Sultan Adel, Mohammed Awadallah.
