Resilient team, passionate fans: How UAE kept the World Cup dream alive

The UAE now need only a draw against Qatar on Tuesday to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup

- Rituraj Borkakoty

The UAE players celebrate their win with the fans at the end of the Fifa World Cup qualifying match against Oman at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Saturday. – AFP

(AFP)

Hailing the resilience of his players, the UAE head coach Cosmin Olaroiu doffed his hat to the travelling fans whose passionate support played a role in the team's incredible come-from-behind victory against Oman, which kept the nation's Fifa World Cup dream alive.

Despite falling behind Oman in the 12th minute of the gripping contest through an own goal from Kouame Kouadio, the UAE held their nerve to stage a stirring fightback as they clinched a 2-1 win in the Group A match of the Asian World Cup qualifiers.

Late second-half goals from Marcus Meloni (76th minute) and Caio Lucas (83rd minute) sparked wild celebrations on the field as well as in the stands as five thousand UAE fans danced and jumped for joy at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Saturday.

Olaroiu admitted that the skills of his players and his tactical changes in the second half would not have been enough to quell the Oman threat if the fans had not provided the energy from the stands.

"I would like to thank our fans for their great support during the match," the Romanian head coach said after the match.

With the UAE government arranging special planes for the fans, thousands of national team supporters thronged the Doha streets one night before the game, bringing back memories of the carnival-like atmosphere at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.