UAE take on the visitors Uzbekistan in the round 9 match of third qualifying stage to FIFA World Cup 2026. The match will be played on Thursday, June 5th at Al Nahyan Stadium (Abu Dhabi).
UAE made their World Cup debut back in 1990. They haven't managed to return since, nor have they ever won the AFC Asian Cup — though they did reach the semifinals in both 2015 and 2019. The UAE also made it to the playoff round in Qatar, but were knocked out in the first stage. However, their performance in the current qualification campaign has been decent: they reached the final round and have collected 13 points from four wins. Still, that tally trails both Iran and Uzbekistan. The battle for a World Cup berth is far from over — dropping below fourth place isn’t a concern, but only a top-two finish ensures a direct spot. Encouragingly, the team has found consistency recently, winning all four of their last qualifiers. Even a win here might not lift them above their rival yet, but it would put them within striking distance and add pressure. This is their last real shot — a misstep now and the math won’t matter anymore. Recent form shows the UAE have momentum, but their success came mostly against lower-tier teams. Now they must prove they can win under pressure against direct competitors.
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Uzbekistan is within touching distance of a long-awaited breakthrough. The "White Wolves" have played as an independent football nation for over 30 years. Despite several close calls — especially in playoff heartbreaks — they have never made it to a World Cup. On the Asian stage, though, they’ve been regular participants since 1996 and even reached the semifinals in 2011. In Qatar, they went unbeaten in regular time, only to be eliminated in the quarterfinals via penalties. This current generation, featuring Shomurodov, Kusanov, and Fayzulliyev, is widely regarded as their strongest ever. And they’re proving it — they’ve lost just once in this qualification round (to Qatar), and held Iran to draws twice. With 17 points, they sit comfortably in second place, needing only a draw to secure their long-awaited World Cup ticket. Uzbekistan’s defense has been particularly impressive, conceding just four goals in this round. Their maturity and tactical discipline could be the edge in this high-stakes clash.
In their last 10 meetings, both teams have claimed four wins apiece. However, Uzbekistan won the two most recent encounters. The teams appear evenly matched on paper. However, Uzbekistan have shown more consistency and composure throughout the qualifiers — the value lies in backing Shomurodov’s side with a 0 handicap (draw no bet).
Prediction for the match: Uzbekistan to win with 0.0 handicap.
