Cairo, Egypt – The match between the UAE and Iraq ended in a 1-1 draw, in the game that brought the two teams together on Thursday evening, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The UAE national team met Iraq at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in the fifth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The match began with strength and enthusiasm from both teams, as both the UAE and Iraq sought to impose their control early on the course of the match, amidst a relative defensive caution in the first minutes.
The Iraqi national team succeeded in surprising the UAE with an early goal in the 10th minute, through Ali Al Hammadi, after a cross from Akam Hashim on the right side, which the UAE defense failed to clear, allowing the ball to reach Ali Al Hammadi, who shot it into the net.
شوف الهدف |
مبكرا .. العراق يتقدم 1-0 على الإمارات عن طريق علي الحمادي في الدقيقة 10#الإمارات_العراق#تصفيات_كأس_العالم2026 #قنوات_الكاس || #منصة_شوف pic.twitter.com/em4OSQtAwf
— قنوات الكاس (@AlkassTVSports) November 13, 2025It wasn’t long before the UAE team responded with an equalizer in the 18th minute, after a cross from Abdullah Ramadan inside the penalty area was met by Luanzinho with a powerful header that found the back of the net.
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منتخب الإمارات يتعادل 1-1 العراق عن طريق بيريرا في الدقيقة 18#الإمارات_العراق#تصفيات_كأس_العالم2026 #قنوات_الكاس || #منصة_شوف pic.twitter.com/Ykj0L2kea7
— قنوات الكاس (@AlkassTVSports) November 13, 2025The two teams continued to exchange attacks, each eager to find the back of the net. In the 30th minute, Iraq’s Ali Al Hammadi unleashed a powerful shot from inside the penalty area, but goalkeeper Khalid Eisa made a brilliant save.
The second half saw relative control and possession by the Iraqi team, but this did not translate into goals.
The UAE team scored a second goal in the dying moments of the 90+6 minute, but the referee disallowed it due to offside.
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بداعي التسلل .. إلغاء هدف لمنتخب الإمارات في مرمى العراق بالوقت القاتل#الإمارات_العراق#تصفيات_كأس_العالم2026#قنوات_الكاس || #منصة_شوف pic.twitter.com/xKvg7mvZhe
— قنوات الكاس (@AlkassTVSports) November 13, 2025The match remained a back-and-forth affair between the two teams, but without any further goals being scored, ending in a 1-1 draw.
With that result, the two teams await the return match in Basra to determine who qualifies for the global play-off for the 2026 World Cup.
The return leg between Iraq and the UAE is scheduled to take place next Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Basra International Stadium in Iraq.
