UAE approves national team's schedule ahead of World Cup 2026

The UAE Football Association has approved the national team's schedule for September as they prepare for two Asian play-off matches for the 2026 World Cup.

The play-offs will take place from October 8 to 14, with the national team facing Oman and Qatar at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The national team will also be holding a training camp in Dubai from August 25 to September 9, where they will play two friendly matches, the first against Syria on September 4, and the second against Bahrain on September 8. The matches will both be held at Zabeel Stadium in Al Wasl Club.

Matar Al Sahbani, a leading member of the national team's administrative management, confirmed that the upcoming training camp will be more beneficial, following the success of the first training camp in Austria last month.

He added that the local competitions will begin soon, and the players will play official matches with their clubs, which will aim to enhance their technical and physical readiness.

He also stressed the technical staff's keenness to monitor the performance of all players, including those who missed the Austria camp due to injury.

Al Sahbani explained that the selection of the Syrian and Bahraini teams for the upcoming friendly matches is due to the proximity to the level of the competitors in the Asian play-off.