UAE national team coach Olariu Cosmin confirmed that the match against Iraq was difficult, noting that the Iraqi team was superior in the first half.
The UAE national team was held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq in the first leg of their Asian playoff tie, played at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, which will determine who advances to the intercontinental playoff.
“The UAE team had a poor start to the match, but their performance improved in the second half despite the difficulties,” Cosmin said in a press conference, as reported by the Iraqi News Agency.
He added: “The players tried to come back in the second half, but we had difficulty building attacks.”
He continued: “The chances of both teams qualifying are still theoretically equal. We will play with strength and courage in the second leg in order to qualify for the World Cup play-offs.”
The UAE national team coach concluded his remarks by saying: “The support of our fans was the best thing about the match.”
Iraq is scheduled to face the UAE in the second leg of the Asian playoff. This match will determine qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals. It will take place on November 18th at 6:00 PM Cairo time (8:00 PM UAE time) at Basra International Stadium in Iraq.
