Eleven foreign players from seven clubs in the UAE Professional Football League have left the country via its airports to join their national teams in various destinations around the world. The process was smooth and seamless, despite the situation in the Middle East, once again demonstrating the UAE's efficiency in managing operational challenges at air gateways and ensuring the players' smooth travel. The departing players include stars from their respective clubs who have been called up to their national teams for friendly matches in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, scheduled for next June in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This break is the final stage for finalizing the squads that will compete in the global event, which has significantly increased the importance of swift and precise travel logistics for these athletes. Al Ain's Moroccan striker, Sofiane Rahimi, joined his national team's training camp, the 'Atlas Lions,' in Rabat before traveling to Spain to face Ecuador and then to France to play against Paraguay. Similarly, Al-Wahda's Egyptian defender, Rami Rabei, joined the 'Pharaohs' as they prepare for two tough matches: against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah and against the Spanish national team in Barcelona. In another development, Al Ain's Paraguayan playmaker, Alejandro Gareca, joined his national team's pre-camp in Greece, preparing for two friendly matches: against Greece in Athens and against Morocco in France, where he might meet his teammate, Sofiane Rahimi. Defender Marcel Ratnik, who plays in the UAE, received his first international call-up to the Slovenian national team to play friendly matches against Hungary in Budapest and against Montenegro in Podgorica, reflecting the progression of his professional career. In the Dibba club, the Iraqi duo, Mahali 'Mimi' and Ibrahim Baish from Al-Dhafra, have joined the 'Mesopotamian Lions' squad, which is holding a camp in Mexico in preparation for a match against the winner of the play-off match between Bolivia and Suriname for a World Cup spot. Furthermore, five Iranian players from league clubs have been called up to their national team's camp in Antalya, Turkey, preparing for matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica. It is worth noting that seven clubs did not announce the call-up of any of their foreign players to their national teams during the current international break: Al-Jazira, Al-Wasl, Sharjah, Al-Khawr Fakkan, Bani Yas, Ajman, and Al-Bataeh. The players are expected to return to the country in early April to join the 21st round of the Professional League, which will be held on April 3, 4, and 5.
