The UAE must wait to discover who their opponents will be in 2026 World Cup qualifying. Photo: UAE FA
The UAE must wait to discover who their opponents will be in 2026 World Cup qualifying. Photo: UAE FA
The UAE must wait to discover who their opponents will be in 2026 World Cup qualifying. Photo: UAE FA
The UAE must wait to discover who their opponents will be in 2026 World Cup qualifying. Photo: UAE FA

UAE made to wait to discover final make-up of group on first steps to 2026 World Cup


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE will take on Bahrain and another two first-round qualifiers on the early road to the 2026 World Cup, after the draw for the second round of qualification was made in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

The national team, seeking to reach the country’s second global finals, will begin their Group H campaign on November 16, but must wait until October to discover which of Yemen or Sri Lanka, and Nepal or Laos will complete the pool.

Those teams, four of the 20 contesting Round 1, must negotiate a two-legged play-off to advance to the second round, with the matches played on October 12 and 17.

For Thursday’s draw, the UAE were placed in Pot 1, which also featured the likes of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Japan, Iran, Australia and South Korea.

Saudi Arabia, looking to qualify for a third successive World Cup and seventh overall, will head Group G against Jordan, Tajikistan and the winner of the play-off between Cambodia and Pakistan.

The UAE, now managed by Portuguese coach Paulo Bento, reached the play-off stage for Qatar 2022 – they topped their second-round group and finished third in the next round – but lost narrowly to Australia in Al Rayyan last summer. The country’s only previous participation in a World Cup was in 1990.

The 2026 tournament, staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States, has been extended to 48 teams – a first in World Cup history – with the Asian Football Confederation’s allocation increasing to eight-and-a-half slots.

Drawn in nine groups of four, the 36 teams contesting the second round of qualification will compete in a home-and-away, round-robin format between November and June 2024.

The nine group winners and the respective runners-up advance to the third round, at the same time securing their places at the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

West Asia Premiership

Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles

Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 5

Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')

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1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

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Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

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Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier

Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman

UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah

MO
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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Updated: July 27, 2023, 9:36 AM`