Greetings to all football fans! We are pleased to offer you a live online broadcast of the Iraq vs United Arab Emirates match as part of the World - World Cup Qualifying tournament.
Match events:
| 17' | Bruno Tripping | |||
| 52' | Caio Lucas (0 - 1) Assist: Y. Nader | |||
| Z. Iqbal / A. Sher | 56' | |||
| Meme / S. Karim | 56' | |||
| 59' | A. Saleh / Luan Pereira | |||
| 65' | A. Zouhir Holding | |||
| Meme (1 - 1) Assist: A. Al Ammari | 66' | |||
| A. Al Ammari Foul | 73' | |||
| 75' | S. Adil / Bruno | |||
| M. Saadoon / H. Ali | 78' | |||
| 87' | A. Ramadan / N. Gimenez | |||
| 90+1' | K. Kouadio Tripping | |||
| A. Muhsin / A. Hussein | 90+5' | |||
| 90+16' | Caio Lucas Unsportsmanlike conduct | |||
| A. Al Ammari (pen.) (2 - 1) | 90+17' |
Welcome to the live broadcast of the main event of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, where the reigning AFC Asian Cup champions, Iraq, host their main rival, the United Arab Emirates, at a packed stadium in Basra. This is the return leg in the battle for the top spot in the group, which promises to be even more intense than the first encounter.
Kick-off: November 18, 2025, 16:00 UTC (19:00 MSK) Stadium: Basra International Stadium, Basra Competition: World Cup 2026 Qualifying (AFC)Iraq vs UAE: Match Preview
The teams come into this match as the undisputed group leaders, and their head-to-head clash will essentially decide the fate of the direct ticket to the World Cup. Iraq, on an incredible emotional high after their Asian Cup victory, will be looking to prove their superiority on home soil with the backing of their passionate fans. The UAE, in turn, will be seeking revenge for the dropped points in the first match and will aim to cause an upset in Basra. The head-to-head history between these teams is very tight: four of the last six matches have ended in a draw.
Team Form and Analysis
Iraq
The 'Lions of Mesopotamia,' managed by Jesús Casas, are the main force in Asia at the moment. The team is known for its tactical discipline, impenetrable defense, and ability to launch devastating counter-attacks. At home in Basra, Iraq has been unbeaten for many years, turning the stadium into an impregnable fortress. A standout player is the hero of the Asian Cup, striker Aymen Hussein.
United Arab Emirates
'The Whites,' under the guidance of Paulo Bento, understand the full importance of this away trip. The team will rely on ball control and the experience of their leaders to neutralize the hosts' attacking momentum. In attack, all hopes are on naturalized Brazilians Caio Canedo and Fábio Lima, as well as the legendary striker Ali Mabkhout. Even a draw in this match would be considered a success for the UAE.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Official lineups will be confirmed one hour before kick-off.
- Iraq (4-2-3-1): Hassan; Ali, Natiq, Sulaka, Tahseen; Rashid, Al-Ammari; Bayesh, Iqbal, Jasim; Hussein.
- UAE (4-2-3-1): Eisa; Idrees, Salmin, Abbas, Ramadan; Nader, Hassan; Lima, Canedo, Al-Hammadi; Mabkhout.
Match Prediction by tutsport.net
Despite the relative equality in class, the home-field advantage makes Iraq the favorite in this contest. The support of the 65,000-strong crowd in Basra is a huge advantage.
- Main Prediction: Iraq to Win. The reigning Asian champions, on their home turf with incredible support, should overcome their main rival and take a decisive step towards first place in the group.
- Total Goals Prediction: Under 2.5 Goals. The stakes in this match are colossal. This is a meeting of two teams with organized defenses. 5 of the last 6 head-to-head matches have been low-scoring. A tight, tactical battle with a minimal number of goals is expected.