Confident UAE look to keep World Cup dream alive with victory against Iraq

ABU DHABI

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Iraq and the UAE will attempt to overcome the disappointment of missing out on an automatic berth at next year's World Cup when they face off on Thursday for another shot at keeping their qualification dreams alive.

The teams meet in Abu Dhabi before reconvening in Basra four days later, with the winners progressing to an intercontinental playoff that will determine the 48th and final qualifier for the expanded tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada.

The opportunity to join Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan at the World Cup 2026 means nothing will be left to chance for either side.

UAE and Iraq arrived at this stage after both finished second in the Play off stage played in October.

Both nations go into the matches, which are among the most important in the history of the respective countries, having already squandered opportunities to progress automatically and end lengthy absences from the finals.