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The eternal dream of the UAE soccer team has been to follow in the footsteps of its 1990 stars and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in three North American countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
On Tuesday, Ali Mabkhout’s Al Abyad (Los Blancos) overwhelmed hosts Bahrain 2-0 in the joint qualifying round of the second round of the World Cup qualifiers at the Bahrain National Stadium. We have taken a small but important step.
It was their second consecutive win after defeating Nepal 4-0 in Sharjah in Group H earlier this month.
UAE attacking midfielder Abdallah Ramadan gave his team the lead with a 36th-minute shot that beat Bahrain goalkeeper Ibrahim Lutfallah before Mabkhout coolly converted his 89th penalty to calmly score two points. I decided on my eyes.
With these two wins, the UAE took pole position at the top of a four-team group that included Yemen and Nepal.
The winners and second place of each of the nine groups in the qualifying round will advance to the third round and also qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
A total of 36 teams from Asia and the Middle East are competing in a home and away round robin to ultimately qualify for the quadrennial football extravaganza.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Qualification is a long process that begins on November 17th and ends on June 11th, 2024.
UAE coach Paulo Bento, who led his native Portugal and South Korea to the World Cup, uses a 4-2-3 that provides the balance of defensive stability and attacking opportunities that he has become famous for at France’s most successful club, PSG. -1 formation was adopted.
After a slow start, the hosts were the first to score when Jassim Marhoum forced UAE keeper Khalid Al Mesmari into a frantic clearance for a corner kick. Malhoun had a second chance to score from a flag kick, but his shot just went over the bar.
After finding their rhythm midway through the first half, UAE’s Kaio Candeo hit the post with a shot that fell into the waiting hands of Lutfalla.
Even though the post denied him, Abdallah Bekhito took advantage of Ali Saleh’s sweet pass in the 36th minute, skimming the diving fingers of Lutfalla and into the net.
Bahrain gave his team a chance to equalize just before half-time, but the shot went just past the goal post.
After the break, the home side gave it their all and created several chances, but Marhoun was up to the task of defending Al Mesmari’s sharp volley.
UAE defended resolutely and forced a spot-kick against the run of play after Mohammad Hadan fouled Bejito, leaving the result in no doubt.
Ali Mabkhout, the UAE’s prolific goal machine, sent Lutfallah the wrong way to complete the process.
The UAE will have a long break before their winter qualifiers are suspended and will resume in March 2024 to face Yemen, while Bahrain will travel to the popular tourist city of Kathmandu to play Nepal.
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