Qatar vs UAE Preview, Prediction, Lineups and Team News | FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

Qatar vs UAE Preview

• Tournament: AFC World Cup Qualification
• Date: Thursday, 5ᵗʰ September
• Kick-off time: 4:00 PM GMT
• Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Qatar

Two heavyweights of Middle Eastern football, Qatar and UAE will face each other in the third round of the AFC Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both the nations topped their respective groups in the second round, earning direct qualification. Qatar and UAE are joined by Iran, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, and Uzbekistan in group A of the third round. It will be a crucial outing as both nations will aim for a positive result to kickstart the next step towards the coveted World Cup in North America.

Qatar’s recent form has been spectacular. In the last six games, the 2022 World Cup hosts have accumulated five victories and a draw. Looking at the bigger picture, Tintin Marquez’s squad is on a 13-match unbeaten streak. Qatar will be confident of its chances to finish top of Group A. A second consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance will be a huge success and a testament to the work being put into football in the country.

UAE, on the other hand, has endured inconsistent results lately. The nation has managed three victories accompanied by two draws and a defeat in the last six outings. During this period, UAE has scored 12 goals which indicates that the attack is not misfiring. Portuguese coach, Paulo Bento, who took over the UAE job in 2023, has to address the issues in the defensive setup. UAE will aim to qualify out of the group and end a 34-year wait for a FIFA World Cup appearance.

Also Read: Portugal vs Croatia: Preview, Prediction, Lineups and Team News | Nations League

Qatar vs UAE Team News

Qatar National Football Team News

Qatar’s head coach, Tintin Marquez, likes to set his eleven in a dynamic 3-4-2-1 formation. The shape allows Qatar to switch the setup according to ball possession. Marquez is also able to obtain a numerical advantage in the final third with five players occasionally occupying the front line. Qatar is expected to make no compromises to its strongest XI as the fans await their heroes to commence the round three qualification on the best possible note.

UAE National Football Team News

Paulo Bento is a frequent employer of the classic 4-3-3 formation which has brought him great joy as far as attacking prowess in concerned. The shape has also led to UAE leaking far too many goals recently due to the lack of defensive cover by the wingers. Bento will be grateful that he has no injury woes to deal with for the Qatar match where he also will likely name his most potent XI to earn a victory.

Predicted Line-Ups

Qatar Predicted Line-Up (3-4-2-1): Barsham; Mendes, Salman, Mohammed; Ahmed, Abdulsallam, Fathy, Afif; Al-Ahrak, Mansour; Ali

UAE Predicted Line-Up (4-3-3): Eisa; Idrees, Al Attas, Abaelaziz, Ahmed; Lima, Faiz, Rashid; Alzaabi, Saleh; Adil

Head-to-Head Stats

Previous encounters between the two nations have resulted in a Qatari dominance. UAE’s last victory over Qatar came all the way back in 2015. Since then, Qatar has held an advantage with an aggregate score of 14-3 in four games. The record will give Qatar the encouragement to get the job done once again over UAE.

Last Five H2H Results:

Qatar 1-1 UAE (2023, Gulf Cup)

Qatar 5-0 UAE (2021, FIFA Arab Cup)

Qatar 4-2 UAE (2019, Gulf Cup)

Qatar 4-0 UAE (2019, Asian Cup)

UAE 4-1 Qatar (2015, Asian Cup)

Key Players to Watch in Qatar vs UAE

Akram Afif (Qatar)

The 27-year-old forward from Al-Sadd has been in tremendous form in 2024 for his country. Afif has scored 10 goals and provided four assists in just nine games this year for Qatar. Akram Afif is one of Tintin Marquez’s favourite players due to his ability to play as a striker as well as a left-winger and also a number 10. He is expected to be fielded in a hybrid role against UAE, rotating as a winger and a midfielder.

Qatar vs UAE Prediction

Qatar will commence the contest as the overwhelming favourites over UAE. Despite UAE’s best efforts in recent years, the gap between the two nations has widened in terms of collective and individual quality. Qatar’s massive dominance over its upcoming opponents in recent years is a good reason to forecast a Qatari win. The nation will be looking forward to add to its seven-match home unbeaten run in Al Rayyan.

Predicted Score: Qatar 4-1 UAE

Where to Watch Qatar vs UAE Live?

Also Read: Wales vs Turkey Preview, Prediction, Lineups and Team News | Nations League