The UAE national team defeated its host Yemen, 2-1, this evening, Thursday, at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, in the third round of the joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup.

The UAE double was scored by Ali Saleh from a penalty kick, and Sultan Adel in the 24th and 72nd minutes.

While the Yemen national team's goal was scored by Emirati player Abdullah Idris, by mistake, in the 69th minute.

The UAE’s score rose to 9 points at the top of Group Eight, while Yemen’s score stagnated at 3 points in third place.

Details of the UAE-Yemen match

The UAE started the match with offensive pressure, which was met with an organized and strong defence, and therefore there were no real dangerous attacks at the beginning.

The UAE national team made an emergency substitution, with Ahmed Jameel leaving due to injury, and Zayed Sultan coming on in the 22nd minute.

Zayed Sultan was obstructed inside the penalty area, and the referee did not hesitate to award a penalty kick for the Emirates, from which Ali Saleh scored the first goal for the hosts in the 24th minute.

The movements of the Yemeni players improved in the Emirates half of the stadium, but the danger remained absent until the end of the first half, in favor of the Emirates with a clean goal.

With the start of the second half, the Yemeni team continued to search for an equalizer, and had a dangerous opportunity with a strong shot from Abdul Wase’ Al-Matari, which goalkeeper Khaled Issa turned into a corner.

The left post of the Yemen national team's goal hit the Emirati player Yahya Al-Ghassani's ball in the 60th minute.

The Yemeni team equalized in the 69th minute, with an accidental friendly fire goal from UAE player Abdullah Idris.

The UAE national team responded quickly, scoring the second goal through Sultan Adel, with a strong header after a corner kick played from the left side in the 72nd minute.

The UAE national team imposed its advantage over the remaining minutes of the match, and maintained its advantage to emerge with an important victory on its home soil and among its fans.

The Syrian national team draws with Myanmar

The Syrian national team fell into a 1-1 draw with its Myanmar counterpart, today, Thursday, at Thovona Stadium, as part of the third round of the joint Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup.

Myanmar national team took the lead with the first goal in the 35th minute through defender Saw Moe Kyaw from a follow-up to Maung Maung Lwin's header inside the penalty area.

Syria coach Hector Cuper made two substitutions in the 60th minute, with Aladdin El Dali replacing Mardik Mardikian, and Daliho Erandst replacing Mahmoud Al Aswad.

Alaeddine El Dali succeeded in scoring the equalizer for the Eagles of Qasioun in the 71st minute, after he took advantage of a Myanmar defender’s mistake in dispersing the ball inside the area, and shot it directly into the net.

Syria's score rose to 4 points in the second group, 5 points behind Japan, which has the lead.

Myanmar won its first point, settling at the bottom of the standings, two points behind North Korea, which is ranked third.