It was at times heroic, but ultimately heartbreaking.
Over the past 16 months, the young Emirati players had prepared for every opponent, for every possible scenario. But few of them would have envisaged adversity striking so early in the opening match of the Fifa U17 World Cup against Honduras at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
A goal down, a man down, and not even half an hour played.
The crowd was initially modest, but most of the players had never had the eyes of the world’s media on them to such a degree. They were nervous and it showed.
Inspiration was needed, from somewhere.
On Tuesday night Rashid Amir’s youngsters had watched as Mahdi Ali’s seniors destroyed Hong Kong 4-0 in their latest 2015 Asian Cup qualifier. The U17 assistant coach Abdullah Al Shaheen had called the Gulf Cup heroes the perfect “role models”.
The UAE started as if desperate to emulate Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman and co; to make the country proud, as they had promised pre-tournament.
And what a start it was. In the very first minute, Mohammed Al Akberi found himself one on one with the keeper Cristian Hernandez, who saved brilliantly. Almost dreamland.
The crowd, so sparse and disappointing for the earlier match between Brazil and Slovakia, eventually swelled to over 8,000 and to their credit were making plenty of noise. Sadly, it didn’t last; harsh reality was about to intervene.
On 19 minutes, Al Akberi’s opposite No 9, Alberth Elis, missed while through on goal. A minute later, Honduras took the lead through Fredy Medina. Clearly, they were no pushovers, their artistic playmaker Rembrandt Flores arguably the most creative player on the pitch.
Then came the turning point of the match, Sultan Al Shamsi’s sending off for a high tackle. Surely, the UAE would never recover. The crowd kept singing, and drumming. But the passes were straying, and the chances dried up.
Then, out of nowhere, a quite wonderful chipped pass by Suhail Al Noobi put Khaled Khalfan through on goal. The first touch took him past the keeper, the second gleefully scored from one yard; 1-1.
The players, relieved, bowed in prayer. In the stands, the fans had theirs answered.
Suddenly, all those long hours of preparation away from home were bearing fruit. Where the 11 men had struggled, the 10 flourished. Adversity had bred resistance.
But could they hold out?
Over the past year, the UAE Football Association had matched their youngsters against teams several years older, with the aim of physically toughening them up. It showed. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the boys in red were up to the challenge.
Al Akberi, the loneliest player on the pitch, ran his heart out up front, dragging the Honduran defenders all across the back line. Often lost in a sea of defenders, he offered a lone ray of hope. Already, he has singled himself out as a star of the future.
But, as the match wore on, cramp and injuries inevitably began to show. Khalid Mohammed and Al Noobi both limped off.
Flores kept pulling the strings. Within seconds, Abdullah Al Hammadi saved off the line twice. In, the corners kept coming, and out the Emirati headers kept clearing them. But the pressure was mounting and the dam was about to burst.
On 86 minutes, heartbreak. A shot by Bryan Velasquez from the edge of the area beat Al Shamsi. The young Emiratis had nothing left to give.
At the final whistle the players sank to their knees, in exhaustion as much as dejection. But there was one last act of defiance; a huddle in the centre circle before departing to applause from an appreciative crowd.
For Rashid Amir and his players, there is no time for self pity. Next up, on Sunday, it’s the boys from Brazil.
akhaled@thenational.ae
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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