The UAE and Iraq face off in Basra on Tuesday in the second leg of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff.
Kickoff is at 8:00 pm UAE time.
The clash is finely balanced after a 1–1 draw in the first leg in Abu Dhabi last week, when Iraq took the lead through Ali Al Hamadi, and Luanzinho equalised for the UAE.
The winner will move on to the Intercontinental Playoffs in March, where the final two spots at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be decided.
Blockx converts late Madrid call-up into breakthrough semi-final run
Alexander Blockx arrived at the Madrid Open expecting to play the qualifying rounds, but the Belgian has made the most of his late promotion to the main draw after a string of withdrawals, riding a wave of confidence to the semi-finals.
Holder brings 'sprinkling of stardust' as Gujarat beat RCB
Jason Holder's display in Gujarat Titans' four-wicket IPL win over champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru was exactly what the team was looking for when they bought the West Indies international, director of cricket Vikram Solanki said.
Japanese trailblazer Nishikori to retire at end of season
Kei Nishikori will hang up his racquet at the end of the 2026 season, the 36-year-old said on Friday, bringing down the curtain on a professional career that saw him break new ground for Japanese tennis.
Wood penalty hands Forest win over Villa in Europa League semi first leg
Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood smashed a penalty into the top corner to secure a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their all-English Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
UAE Team Emirates XRG's Pogačar doubles up on stage 2 of Tour de Romandie
Tadej Pogačar made it two wins in two days for UAE Team Emirates XRG at the Tour de Romandie in Switzerland, with the race leader picking the spoils from a reduced bunch sprint on stage 2.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has praised the efforts of the first batch of Emirati government officials to secure scholarships to study at the world's top universities.
Dubai Police have summoned a driver for running a red light and trying to evade the authorities by removing the number plate of his Nissan Patrol.
Abu Dhabi is stepping up its smart mobility ambitions with new trials of an autonomous patrol boat designed to support monitoring operations across waterways.
