The UAE National Football Team faced a disappointing defeat against Iran, losing 2-0 in the seventh round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup held at Azadi Stadium in Tehran on March 20, 2025.
Sirdar Azmoun was the star for the Iranian team, scoring the opening goal during stoppage time at the 72-minute mark, following a lengthy delay of 26 minutes due to lighting issues at the stadium. The second goal came earlier, in the 70th minute, from Mohammad Mohebi, solidifying Iran’s dominance in the match.
Throughout the game, Iran produced eight shots on goal compared to just one for the UAE, underscoring the disparity in performance on the field. With this victory, Iran now leads the group with 19 points in the Asian qualifiers, while the UAE sits third with only 10 points, trailing Uzbekistan by three.
Iran came into this match ranked first in Group A, having enjoyed a strong performance throughout the qualifiers with five wins and a draw, while the UAE has struggled with three wins, one draw, and two losses in six matches.
The match was particularly crucial for both teams, with Iran needing only a draw to ensure its place in the next stage of the qualifiers, while the UAE desperately sought a win to keep its hopes alive for qualification to the World Cup.
The match, scheduled to kick off at 6:00 PM Cairo time, was broadcast on multiple channels including beIN Sports HD 3 and Alkass Seven HD, with commentary provided by Ali Saeed Al Kaabi and Montaser Al Azhari, respectively. Fans across the region tuned in to see if the UAE could break its historical losing streak against Iran. In their last five encounters, Iran has won four times, with one match ending in a draw.
UAE's head coach Paulo Bento fielded a starting lineup featuring goalkeeper Khalid Essa, defenders Walid Abbas, Khalifa Hamadi, Khalid Al-Dhanhani, and Ali Salmin, while the midfield consisted of Abdullah Ramadan, Tahnoon Al-Zaabi, and Yahya Nader. Upfront, the striker trio of Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, and Yahya Al-Ghassani took to the pitch in hopes of changing the team's fortunes.
On the Iranian side, coach Amir Ghalenoi prepared his squad with Ali Reza Beiranvand in goal, supported by a solid defense including Ehsan Haji-Safi, Morteza PouraliGanji, Majid Hosseini, and Ramin Rezaeian. The midfield featured Saeid Ezatolahi, Ahmad Noorollahi, and Saman Ghoddos, while the attacking partnership of Mehdi Taremi and Azmoun posed a significant threat to the UAE defense throughout the match.
This loss places UAE in a precarious position as they move forward in the qualifiers, and they will need to regroup quickly to address the issues highlighted during this match. Scoring opportunities were minimal, and defensive weaknesses need urgent attention for the next games.
With only a few matches left in the qualifiers, the pressure remains high for the UAE team. They must secure maximum points in upcoming fixtures against groups rivals to keep their dreams of World Cup qualification alive.
The Iranian team, bolstered by this significant victory, moves forward with confidence as they approach the final stages of qualification, clearly on track for a spot in the prestigious world tournament.
