Iraq vs UAE: Do or die AFC play off second leg preview, no away goals, team news and prediction

The significance couldn't be higher as Iraq and the United Arab Emirates go head-to-head in the decisive second leg of their World Cup Qualifier Play-Off.

This monumental clash, held in Basra, will determine which team advances to the intercontinental play-off for a coveted place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The winner will join the Inter-Confederation Play-Off in March, where the likes of DR Congo, New Caledonia, and Bolivia are already waiting.

Match details

• Kick-off: 8:00 PM UAE Time

• Where to Watch: Live on beIN SPORTS (TOD).

Don't miss a minute of this decisive match. We will be having live blog coverage of the game.

Context and first leg recap

The first leg finishes level and the tie heads to Basra wide open, though Iraq will feel the more satisfied side with this result. They struck first from a scrappy set piece that UAE failed to clear, but the hosts responded with real quality. Ramadan delivered a superb cross that found Luanzinho, who rose brilliantly to power in a thumping header that brought the match to life.

From that moment the game opened up into an end to end battle. Iraq kept threatening with their physical presence and intensity, pushing forward with purpose and unsettling the UAE at times. The home side grew stronger as the match wore on and began to control long spells, especially late in the second half. Khalid Eissa, the UAE keeper, was outstanding throughout, producing several crucial saves to keep his side level.

UAE pushed hard for a late winner and Lucas even had the ball in the net, though it was ruled out, and the closing moments turned into real chaos inside the Iraq area as UAE piled on the pressure.

No away goals

With away goals not in play, everything now depends on the second leg. Iraq will back themselves to finish the job in front of their home crowd in Basra, while UAE know they will have to produce their best performance in Iraq to reach the next round of playoffs. If they score is level at 90 mins, the game will go to extra time and penalties if required.

Form and key statistics

• Iraq (The Lions of Mesopotamia) enter the match with strong momentum, especially when playing at home.

• They are currently six matches unbeaten overall, including four victories in that stretch.

• The performance displayed in Abu Dhabi should give the home crowd encouragement.

• Graham Arnold, the Iraqi coach has the know-how to handle these tricky situations as he has taken Australia to the round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup

• The UAE are without a win in their last two matches, which includes a 2-1 defeat to Qatar that denied them automatic qualification.

• However, the team boasts an impressive attacking run, having netted in each of their previous seven outings and averaging 1.7 goals per match during that spell.

• UAE struggled to deal with long balls and to win their duels in the first leg. They will have to handle the intensity of Iraq in a hostile atmosphere if they want to give themselves any real chance in the return match.

• Cosmin Olaroiu, the UAE coach will have to get his starting lineup spot-on for this game.

Team news and lineups

• The Iraq coach will be forced to make at least one change due to suspension, but may opt for strategic rotation up front.

• Midfielder Aimar Sher is suspended after receiving a second booking.

• This absence could open the door for Manchester United academy graduate Zidane Iqbal to operate on the right side of the midfield.

• Star striker Ayman Hussein, who has netted eight goals in the qualifiers campaign, is expected to start after coming off the bench in the first leg. Al-Hamadi, the goal scorer in the first leg is reportedly out injured for this game. Ayman Hussein came on from the bench but he mostly had an impact on the defensive side of the game as UAE were piling pressure on Iraq. He will be hoping to have an impact in the attacking box this time around.

Possible Iraq Starting XI: J Hasan; Doski, Tahseen, Hashem, H Ali; Jabbah, Al-Amari, Jasim, Iqbal; M Ali, A Hussein

• The UAE will rely heavily on the experienced members of their squad and their clinical attack.

• Captain and experienced goalkeeper Khalid Eisa is expected to be crucial again, having put in an outstanding display in the first leg.

• Luan Pereira, the goalscorer from the first leg will have to provide another stellar performance.

• Caio Lucas may return to spearhead the attack, with Caio Canedo also pushing for a starting role after a short cameo last time out. Yahya Nader was the man helping in the build up phase by dropping into defence from the midfield and he will have to continue doing that in this game too.

Possible UAE Starting XI: Eisa; Meloni, Pimenta, Zouhir, R Canedo; L Pereira, Nader, Ramadan, S Alamiri; N Gimenez; Lucas

Prediction

Iraq enter the second leg as favourites because of the home advantage, but UAE will not step aside without a real fight. It still feels like a fifty fifty contest, and if UAE can survive the early pressure, the mood in the stands will shift and tension will build. UAE have enough quality in attack to trouble Iraq once they settle.

Eissa will once again need to deliver a top performance, and the UAE defence must stand up to the physical strength of the Iraqi side. For UAE to return from Basra as winners, they will need to play at their highest level from start to finish.