It is without doubt the biggest match in decades for the UAE football team. The national side will carry the hopes of countless fans across the Gulf region when they take on Australia in a crunch World Cup play-off on Tuesday.
Victory at the the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan will take UAE one step closer to Qatar 2022, with only Peru then standing between them and a spot in the finals.
The national team are aiming for only a second World Cup appearance more than three decades after their debut in 1990. Coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena, who is still fresh in the job, has been given the difficult task. He will have ample support on his side with around 5,000 UAE fans set to attend the all-important match.
One of the players Arruabarrena will be relying on is star playmaker Omar Abdulrahman, who is back in the side having last featured for the national team in November 2019. Also eager to make his mark will be Brazilian Caio Canedo, now granted UAE citizenship, and desperate to bring glory to his new home.
“For me it's an honour to defend such a big country,” Canedo told The National. “For everything the country did for me and my family. Since the first day I was here I felt the hug, the affection from the fans. All the fans and the UAE people, they embraced me very well, the affection was amazing. So I'm very grateful for this opportunity to defend this country."
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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
The Aussies, meanwhile, will be aiming for their fifth straight World Cup appearance. They defeated Honduras to book a berth in Russia four years ago and now Graham Arnold's team must travel a similar path to qualification.
With so much on the line, here is all you need to know about the crucial play-off.
What
UAE v Australia World Cup play-off
When
Tuesday, June 7, 2022, from 10pm (UAE time)
Where
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar
How to watch in the UAE?
The match can be seen live on Abu Dhabi Sports Asia 1 & 2. And also on Starzplay.
What next?
Winners of Tuesday's play-off will take on Peru in a one-off match on June 13. The winners of that match will qualify for Qatar 2022.
