United Arab Emirates and Iraq draw 1-1 in first leg of 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff

The United Arab Emirates and Iraq drew 1-1 Thursday successful the archetypal limb of their 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff successful Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates and Iraq drew 1-1 Thursday successful the archetypal limb of their 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff successful Abu Dhabi.

The teams volition question to the Iraqi larboard metropolis of Basra for Tuesday’s instrumentality lucifer successful the 5th circular of Asian qualifying.

The victor volition past beforehand to FIFA’s intercontinental playoff circular successful March, erstwhile six teams from 5 confederations volition vie for 2 spots astatine adjacent summer’s expanded 48-team World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In beforehand of a sellout assemblage of 36,000 astatine Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Iraq — whose lone World Cup quality came successful 1986 — took the pb aft conscionable 10 minutes.

The UAE defence failed to wide a agelong escaped footwear into the area, allowing the shot to driblet to Ali Al-Hamadi. The Luton guardant hooked location from adjacent scope to springiness Iraq, coached by erstwhile Australia manager Graham Arnold, a 1-0 lead.

It lasted lone 8 minutes. Brazilian-born guardant Luanzinho powered a header into the bottommost country to propulsion the UAE level arsenic the location broadside chased its archetypal World Cup quality since 1990.

The UAE astir grabbed a precocious victor successful stoppage time, but Caio Lucas’ header was ruled retired for offside.

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