With so many football fans, both locals and expats, there’s huge enthusiasm behind the UAE national team’s effort to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Plus, as the international sporting event is set to take place in the Middle East for the first time, there’s added impetus to the UAE’s bid to return to the highest level of world football once more.
Back in 1990, the UAE reached the FIFA World Cup finals in Italy but were knocked out in the group stage after facing West Germany, Yugoslavia and Colombia.
This time around the UAE has been drawn in Group G in round two of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Opponents, who will each be played home and away, include Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The first matches, with the opponents yet to be confirmed, will take place on September 5 and 10.
The group winners will automatically progress to the third and final round if qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2020.
Four of the best runners up, with the best record during the second stage of qualification, will also progress to the final stage of qualification.
Added importance will be placed on these qualifiers as the matches also count in part towards qualification to the 2023 Asian Cup in China.
We don’t know about you but we would love to see the UAE at the FIFA World Cup and we’ll be supporting the team all the way.
