Under-pressure Arnold to stay in charge for Australia's World Cup play-off against UAE

Socceroos manager facing calls to resign after failure to secure automatic qualification for Qatar

Graham Arnold has received the backing of Football Australia despite failure to gain automatic entry to the 2022 World Cup. EPA

Australia manager Graham Arnold will stay in charge for the 2022 World Cup play-off against the UAE, despite calls for him to resign following the team's failure to secure an automatic qualification spot for Qatar.

Australia's hopes of direct entry to a fifth straight World Cup were ended with successive defeats to Japan and Saudi Arabia over the last week. By finishing third in Group B, the Socceroos will now face a play-off match against the UAE in Doha on June 7, with the winners progressing to face Peru a week later.

Speculation has been rampant that Arnold could be sacked, but Football Australia said he will remain until at least the end of the qualifying campaign.

"Graham has Football Australia's support and after nearly four years in the role, still has the opportunity to finish the job he was appointed to in 2018 and see through his commitment to the national team," said FA chief James Johnson.

"We will work closely with Graham to ensure the team has the necessary resources, support and the approach required to achieve the best possible outcome and ultimately qualification to our fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup."

Australia made a strong start to their qualifying campaign, but after losing to Japan away in October, three draws derailed their progress before the two defeats over the past week.

With 32 places separating Australia and the UAE in the Fifa rankings, the Socceroos will be favourites to advance to face Peru, but they will be wary of a UAE side who ended their Group A campaign with a victory over South Korea. The UAE also won the most recent meeting between the two sides, a 1-0 victory at the 2019 Asian Cup.

UAE beat South Korea to keep World Cup dream alive

The UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates scoring the only goal of the game against South Korea in the World Cup qualifier at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. AFP

UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa celebrates after the match. Reuters

UAE players celebrate after the match. Reuters

South Korea attacker Son Heung-min goes down under a challenge from Caio Canedo. Reuters

UAE match-winner Harib Abdallah and South Korea's Nam Tae-Hee challenge for a header. Getty

UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. EPA

UAE's Caio Canedo on the attack. Getty

Action during the game at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Getty

UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa makes a save. EPA

UAE's Mohammed Al Baloushi battles for the ball with South Korea forward Son Heung-min. AFP

UAE defend a free-kick. Reuters

UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates scoring the winning goal. AFP

UAE's Abdulaziz Hussain. Getty

UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. EPA

South Korea's Son Heung-min holds off the challenge of Majed Hassan of the UAE. Reuters

UAE attacker Caio Canedo fouls South Korea goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo. AP

UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates with teammates after scoring. Reuters

South Korea attacker Son Heung-min. EPA

Kim Min-jae of South Korea and UAE's Caio Canedo battle for the ball. EPA

South Korea's Hee-Chan Hwang battles for possession with Mohammed Al Baloushi of the UAE. Reuters

South Korea's Kim Jin-su kicks the ball under pressure from Abdulaziz Hussain of the UAE. Reuters

South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan on the ball against the UAE. Reuters

UAE fans at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Reuters

The UAE team before the match in Dubai. AFP