A tightly contested tie leaves both sides with work to do ahead of the second leg in Basra.
In a high-stakes first leg of the Asian qualifying play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, United Arab Emirates national football team (UAE) and Iraq national football team played out a 1-1 draw at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Reuters+2beIN SPORTS+2
Match Summary
The visitors Iraq drew first blood in the 10th minute when Ali Al‑Hamadi capitalised on a defensive lapse by the UAE, sweeping home after a cross from the left following a free-kick situation. Reuters+1
However, the hosts responded swiftly. Just eight minutes later, Brazil-born midfielder Luanzinho rose highest to meet a fine in-swinging cross from Abdalla Ramadan and headed the equaliser to restore parity at 1-1. Reuters+1
With that, the scoreline stayed unchanged through the rest of the evening despite both sides creating chances and pushing for the edge. In stoppage time, the UAE thought they had snatched a winner when Caio Lucas bundled the ball over the line, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Reuters+1
Key Stats & Tactical Notes
- The match saw fairly balanced possession (51% for UAE vs 49% for Iraq) according to sources. FotMob+1
- Shots and big chances were fairly even — though the UAE had slightly more volume of play, Iraq remained dangerous on the break and from set-piece situations. Gulf News+1
- UAE’s goalkeeper Khalid Eisa produced some important saves to keep the home side level. Gulf News+1
- For Iraq, the disciplined defending and organized transitions allowed them to frustrate UAE to a degree and earn a favourable away result.
Implications for the Tie
With this result in the books, the overall tie remains wide open. The aggregate draw means the second leg, set to take place at the Basra International Stadium in Iraq on 18 November 2025, is likely to be a dramatic and decisive affair. Khaleej Times+1
For UAE, the draw means they will need to travel to Iraq and likely go for a win rather than just defend a lead. A home draw of course is not a bad result, but the onus will be on them to deliver away from home. For Iraq, earning an away goal (or at least not losing) puts them in a relatively strong position heading into the return.
Historical & Contextual Notes
- Neither side has guaranteed qualification yet: the winner of this two-leg tie progresses to the inter-confederation play-off in March which will award one of the final spots for the 2026 World Cup. FIFA+1
- The UAE are seeking a return to the World Cup after many years. Khaleej Times+1
- Iraq are likewise looking to re-establish themselves on the global stage.
- The expanded format of the 2026 tournament (48 teams) means more inter-continental spots and therefore more opportunities — but the route remains challenging. The Guardian+1
What to Watch in Second Leg
- Will UAE adopt a more conservative away game or go for the victory early?
- How will Iraq respond at home: will they press aggressively from the start or play tactically to protect their advantage?
- Set-pieces and dead-ball situations are likely to play a big role given how the first leg’s opening goal came.
- The fitness levels and mental toughness especially in the closing phases could decide who takes the tie.
Conclusion
A 1-1 draw may seem like a modest outcome, but in the context of this play-off tie it’s a meaningful result: it ensures both teams are still very much in contention, but neither has taken the decisive step. The second leg in Basra promises to be a tense, passionate affair, and the winner will inch closer to booking a place in the inter-continental play-offs for the 2026 World Cup.
