The head coach of the United Arab Emirates national football team, Romanian Ilie Cosmin, stated that he is working under immense pressure following the team's loss to Iraq. Yesterday, the UAE team was defeated 1:2 in the second leg of the Asian playoff qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, and their dream of qualifying for the World Cup has vanished. Cosmin described this match as the best his team has played, but noted that everything fell apart due to certain events that turned everything upside down. He emphasized that he does not want to make excuses but confirmed that he received all the necessary support to lead the national team. In an interview with Abu Dhabi Sports, Cosmin began on a somber note: "I tried to make changes to the team, but there are matters and reasons I cannot speak about in this interview." In response to a question about whether the national team will participate in the Arabian Gulf Cup in Doha next month, Cosmin said: "I don't know, someone already asked me if we would play with the under-23 team." Cosmin then added again: "For me, it would be better to play in the Arabian Gulf Cup with the first team." Cosmin also pointed out that for the first time during his tenure, he feels that all parties, whether the football federation, the media, the fans, and the entire system, have stood behind the team to support their quest for World Cup qualification. The head coach stressed that he came to the UAE national team with an open heart and is confident that the team can offer more, but this requires a fighting spirit on the field. "We could have controlled this match and all the previous ones if it weren't for fatal mistakes, including the one in the match against Iraq from which the penalty was awarded, and which was the reason we failed to qualify for the World Cup," he said. Cosmin confirmed that this is the first time his team has played better than in other matches. Regarding the constant changes in the squad, Cosmin explained that he needs to change the lineup to play in different ways, noting that there are players who cannot play two matches in a row. In conclusion, the coach praised the national team's players, stating that they are capable of qualifying for the World Cup with him or with any other coach.
