Mário Zagallo and Cheryl, the chief and assistant coaches of the UAE national football team, brief players during a training session ahead of the World Cup qualifying matches in Singapore. — September 27, 1989.
35 years on: UAE’s historic 1990 World Cup dream lives on
Fresh from a 2-1 win over Oman in Doha, UAE eye historic World Cup return
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The UAE football team receives a grand welcome at Abu Dhabi Stadium after qualifying for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy — a proud moment captured in Gulf News Archives.
Gulf News Archives
Dubai: The United Arab Emirates is celebrating 35 years since its historic qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy — and the timing couldn’t be more symbolic. Tonight in Doha, the national team faces Qatar in a decisive qualifier that could reopen the gates to football’s biggest stage.
Fresh off a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Oman on Saturday, Cosmin Olaroiu’s side sits atop Group A and needs only a draw to secure direct entry to the 2026 World Cup — their first since 1990.
The mood among fans is electric, with thousands travelling to Qatar despite only 8 per cent of tickets allotted to UAE supporters.
The UAE football team arrives at Abu Dhabi International Airport after qualifying for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy — marking a historic milestone in the nation’s sporting journey.
The UAE’s Adnan Al Talyani challenges West Germany’s Guido Buchwald during their 1990 FIFA World Cup match at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. Although the UAE lost all their group games, midfielder Khalid Ismail made history by scoring the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal in a 5-1 defeat to eventual champions West Germany, while Sharjah’s Ali Thani found the net in a 4-1 loss to Yugoslavia.
The clash promises intensity both on and off the field as Qatar, trailing narrowly, must win to keep their hopes alive. For the UAE, the stakes go beyond qualification — it’s a chance to rekindle national pride and relive the spirit of that 1990 milestone.
A positive result tonight could see a new generation of Emirati players etch their names alongside legends like Adnan Al Talyani, uniting a nation once again in celebration of football’s most enduring dream.
UAE defender Marcus Meloni celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian qualifier match against Oman at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on October 11, 2025.
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