With World Cup hopes on the line, thousands of Emirati supporters have descended on Doha to back the UAE national football team in a critical playoff clash against Oman. The matchup marks a pivotal step in the UAE’s mission to return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1990.
Gulf derby set for high stakes showdown in Doha
The UAE will take on Oman in a key fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian playoffs on Saturday, October 11. The match, scheduled for 9:15 PM UAE time (8:15 PM local time), will be held at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, located within Al Sadd Club’s grounds in Doha.This is the UAE’s first game in Group A of the playoff stage. Oman already played their opening fixture—a goalless draw against hosts Qatar—securing a single point. The outcome of Saturday’s match is critical for both sides, with direct qualification to the World Cup at stake for the group winners, while runners-up move on to an intercontinental playoff.
UAE targets breakthrough after 35 year world cup absence
The last time the UAE qualified for the FIFA World Cup was in 1990, when the tournament was held in Italy. The current campaign under head coach Cosmin Olăroiu offers a fresh opportunity to rewrite history. Since his appointment earlier this year, the Romanian coach has maintained an unbeaten run, blending seasoned names with emerging talent to build a cohesive side.In attack, Fábio Lima is expected to lead the line, flanked by Harib Suhail and Ali Saleh on the wings. At the back, Serbian-born defender Sasha Ivković is set to play a key role in managing Oman’s swift offensive play. A victory against Oman would place the UAE in strong contention ahead of their second and final group match against Qatar on October 14.
Oman aims for first ever world cup qualification
Oman, led by veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, is also eyeing a breakthrough. While their draw against Qatar showed defensive resilience, they suffered a setback with the injury loss of forward Jameel Al Yahmadi. In his absence, Queiroz is expected to push Issam Al Subhi into a more prominent attacking role.Oman has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, and the stakes are just as high for them. A win against the UAE would boost their prospects before they conclude their playoff round.
Massive fan turnout as national spirit rises
Doha’s iconic Souq Waqif and surrounding areas were flooded with Emirati colours on Friday night, as thousands of UAE supporters took to the streets. Dressed in red and white and carrying national flags, fans chanted slogans and sang patriotic songs to rally behind the team.Tickets for the match are already sold out, with videos circulating on social media showing packed fan gatherings in public spaces across the Qatari capital. One clip, shared by the ‘UAE national football team fans’ account, captured vibrant scenes of supporters chanting “UAE! UAE!” in the heart of Doha.To support the fan movement, the UAE Football Association launched a national initiative titled “A Homeland’s Dream”, aimed at encouraging community participation during the team’s qualification journey. As part of this campaign, the UAEFA arranged five private planes to fly supporters to Doha. Telecommunications company e& also joined in, offering 2GB of free roaming data to fans travelling to Qatar for the match.
Qualification format and what’s next
The current playoff stage is part of the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Group A, featuring the UAE, Oman, and Qatar, will send its winner directly to the World Cup. The runner-up will get a second chance via the intercontinental playoffs.Following the Oman match, the UAE will face Qatar on October 14 in what could be the deciding fixture. With two wins, the national team would secure a direct berth in the 2026 tournament, potentially ending a 35-year World Cup drought.