In the UAEvsQatar match, UAE emerged victorious 5-0 against Qatar on Tuesday at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, where Fabio Lima scored four goals to boost his team’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lima, a Brazil-born striker, made a hat trick in the first half before hitting a fourth in the 56th minute.
In the end, Yahya Al Ghassani rounded off the performance by scoring his fifth goal in the 73rd minute. The UAE has won back-to-back matches after trouncing Kyrgyzstan 3-0 on November 14. They still hold third position in Group A of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers, having taken 10 points from six matches played, while Iran is at the top with 16 points, and Uzbekistan occupies the second position with 13 points.
The top two teams from each group will advance automatically to the 2026 World Cup, which shall feature 48 teams. Group A, which hosts the UAE, also comprises Qatar, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea. The UAE’s strong performance holds them firmly in the fray for one of the much-coveted spots.
The qualification for World Cup 2026 is divided into three groups of six teams. The top two teams from each group will qualify straight to the World Cup. The teams that finish third and fourth will again go into the playoff, and then the winner of the Asian playoff will have one more chance to get a slot in an inter-confederation tournament.
The UAE last qualified for the World Cup in 1990, and this latest victory gave them renewed hope of returning to the global stage.
