United Arab Emirates kept their World Cup dream alive with a rousing 2-1 comeback win over Oman in the fourth round of Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Saturday.
Trailing 0-1 deep into the second half, UAE flipped the script with two goals in seven minutes — Marcus Meloni’s 76th-minute header and Caio Lucas’s curling winner in the 83rd — to seal a memorable victory that puts them within touching distance of their first World Cup appearance since 1990.
From Despair To Delight
UAE had fallen behind early when Amjad Al Harthi’s cross deflected off Kouame Kouadio for an own goal in the 12th minute. The setback and early nerves haunted them through a disjointed first half.
We were too nervous at the start and made an early mistake we couldn’t recover from. At half-time I told the boys — if we want to qualify, we must forget the first half and play with spirit and personality.
That message resonated. The UAE came out transformed after the break, dominating possession and piling on the pressure. They thought they had a penalty in the 70th minute when Ali Saleh was brought down inside the box, but VAR overturned referee Alireza Faghani’s initial decision.
Meloni Ignites The Comeback
Denied once, UAE refused to let momentum slip. Saleh made amends six minutes later, whipping in a perfect link slot thailand cross that Marcus Meloni met with a thumping header to make it 1-1.
The equaliser lit a spark in the Emirati side — and in the stands. Oman’s defenders suddenly looked rattled, and goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini was forced into desperate saves.
In the 83rd minute, Caio Lucas produced a moment of pure class, curling a long-range effort that dipped and bounced past the sprawling Al Mukhaini into the bottom corner, sending UAE fans into raptures.
The spirit the players showed in the second half was fantastic. Sometimes when you have supporters like this behind you, the team transforms completely.
Eissa’s Heroics Seal It
Goalkeeper Khalid Eissa played his part too, pulling off two crucial saves — first denying Al Mushaifri from point-blank range in the 79th minute, and then tipping Zahir Al Aghbari’s fierce shot over the bar in the 89th.
We’ve worked so hard for this. The coach and players put in a lot of effort. We faced criticism, but we stayed united and showed our willingness to give everything.
Focus Shifts To Qatar Showdown
The result means UAE now need just a draw against hosts Qatar on Tuesday to qualify as Group A winners, marking a potential return to the World Cup after 36 years.
Two days between matches is enough for recovery. The players know what’s at stake — they’re playing for their country.
Oman coach Carlos Queiroz was gracious in defeat, acknowledging UAE’s superiority. “They deserved to win. UAE have a great team — almost an all-star side,” he said. “I hope they beat Qatar. It may sound selfish, but if they win big, we still have a chance to qualify.”
Scoreline And Summary: UAE 2 (Meloni 76’, Caio Lucas 83’) bt Oman 1 (Kouadio 12’ OG).
