Cosmin Olăroiu, head coach of the UAE national team, emphasized that his squad is determined to secure victory in the upcoming clash against Iraq in the Asian playoff for the 2026 World Cup ⚽🌏.
Olăroiu said in a press conference: "We disappointed our fans in the previous match, so we will give our utmost to make them proud." He added, "This is a crucial moment for the UAE national team, and we are fully aware of the importance of the match against Iraq."
The Romanian coach highlighted that the match will not be easy against a well-organized team, and players must focus and remain unaffected by emotions, noting that small details make the difference and must be executed on the pitch.
Iraq and the UAE will face each other twice to determine the team advancing to the global playoff for the 2026 World Cup, after finishing second in their respective Asian playoff groups behind Qatar and Saudi Arabia 🏆.
The winner of the two-legged tie will compete in the global playoff next March, where six teams from different continents will vie for the final two World Cup spots.
Eight Asian teams have already qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup: Jordan, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Australia, along with Qatar and Saudi Arabia through the playoff.
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