UAE 1-1 Iraq, FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Qualifiers Highlights: Match Ends In Frustrating Draw; All To Play For In 2nd Leg

Good evening football fans. Exciting leg 1 on the cards between UAE and Iraq at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The match will kick-off at 9:30PM (IST). Stay tuned for the build-up, latest updates, playing XIs and play-by-play commentary from the match.

Fixture: UAE Vs Iraq, AFC FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers 5th round, 1st leg

Venue: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025

Time: 09:30PM IST

Live Streaming: FanCode app/website

Starting XI (4-4-2): Jalal Hassan Hachim (GK & C), Zaidd Tahseen, Akam Rahman, Merchas Doski, Hussein Ali, Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim, Marko Lawk Farji, Aimar Sher, Mohannad Ali Kadhim and Ali Al Zubaidi

Substitutes: Kevin Yakob, Ahmed Al-Hajjaj, Munaf Younus, Fahad Talib Raheem, Osama Jabbar, Mustafa Saadoon, Hasan Abdulkareem, Ahmed Basil, Aymen Hussein, Sherko Kareem, Zidane Iqbal and Hussein Ali Al-Saedi

Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Khalid Eisa (GK), Alaeddine Zouhir, Lucas Pimenta, Ruben Canedo, Marcus Meloni, Abdalla Ramadan, Yahia Nader, Sultan Adil Alamiri, Luan Pereira, Harib Abdalla and Nicolas Gimenez

Substitutes: Bruno, Gastón Álvarez Suarez, Ali Saleh Amro, Mohammed Rabii, Hamad Al Meqebaali, Majid Rashid, Khaled Ebraheim, Caio Canedo, Kouame Autonne, Caio, Richard Akonnor and Adel Al-Hosani

UAE 2-0 Iraq (November 2016)

Iraq 1-0 UAE (September 2017)

UAE 0-0 Iraq (January 2021)

UAE 2-2 Iraq (October 2021)

Iraq 1-0 UAE (March 2022)

Underway for the 1st leg of the 5th round of the AFC FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers between UAE and Iraq.

Iraq open the scoring 10 minutes into the start as Ali Ibrahim Al Zubaidi turns in an easy chance. Early defensive setback for the UAE. Following a set piece, a right-footed shot was taken from the center of the penalty area, directed straight toward the center of the goal.

UAE's Luanzinho equals the scoring and cancels Iraq's 10th minute lead with an extra ordinary header from close range to the back of the net. Abdalla Ramadan with an exquisite cross there.

Iraq are knocking on the doors here for a second goal of the night. Ali Al Zubaidi sees his right-footed shot getting saved by Khalid Eissa.

UAE's Sultan Adil misses a golden opportunity to take the lead as his right-footed shot edges past the right corner. Nicolas Gimenez also has a shot saved from the left side of the box. It's all happening over here.

The half-time whistle has been blown and it is locked 1-1 with all to play for in the second-half. UAE's Luanzinho cancelled Ali Al Hamadi's opener for Iraq in the 10th minute. The Iraqis have dominated the possession (47-53) and they have also dominated in terms of total shots (7) as well as shots on target (3).

The remaining 45 minutes are underway. UAE and Iraq have their plans chalked out - find opportunities to score goal and head into the 2nd leg with an upper hand.

Iraq are defending deep and quite well as a couple of shots from Yahia Nader and Nicolas Gimenez is saved by the goalkeeper. UAE have taken off the architects of the first goal - Luanzinho and Abdalla Ramadan for Ali Saleh and Bruno.

UAE are making good combinations to move forward but they fail to make any difference whatsoever as Iraq keep blocking the attacks from all channels.

It ends 1-1 at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium for the 1st leg of the AFC qualifier match between UAE and Iraq. Luanzinho and Ali Al-Hammadi's goals were the only ones to be scored in this match and both teams will meet each other in the 2nd leg with an aim to go through to the FIFA play-off tournament.