The FIFA World Cup 26™ AFC Qualifiers saw an intense Group A clash between the United Arab Emirates National Football Team and the IR Iran National Football Team on September 10, 2024, at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain. Both teams entered the match with high stakes, seeking valuable points to secure their qualification. With a history of close encounters, this fixture promised drama and excitement.
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team Head to Head
The IR Iran National Football Team has dominated previous encounters, winning all five of their last matchups against the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has yet to register a victory, making this game crucial for their qualification hopes.
- United Arab Emirates: 0 Wins
- IR Iran: 5 Wins
- Draws: 0
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team Lineups
United Arab Emirates (4-1-4-1)
GK: Khalid Eisa
DEF: Abdulla Idrees (85′ Fahad Badr), Khalifa Mubarak, Kouame Autonne, Yahia Nader (85′ Issam Faiz)
MID: Tahnoon Alzaabi (65′ Fabio De Lima), Abdulla Salmeen, Fabio De Lima (64′), Harib Abdalla, Yahya Alghassani (58′ Ali Saleh)
FW: Caio Canedo
Substitutions for UAE:
- Fabio De Lima replaced Tahnoon Alzaabi (65′)
- Ali Saleh replaced Yahya Alghassani (58′)
- Fahad Badr and Issam Faiz entered in the 85th minute, replacing Abdulla Idrees and Yahia Nader.
IR Iran (4-2-3-1)
GK: Ali Beiranvand
DEF: Saleh Hardani, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Mohammad Kanaani, Milad Mohammadi
MID: Saeid Ezatolahi (76′ Mohammad Ghorbani), Omid Norafkan, Alireza Jahanbakhsh (C), Saman Ghoddos (57′ Sardar Azmoun), Mehdi Ghayedi (57′ Ali Gholizadeh)
FW: Mehdi Taremi
Substitutions for IR Iran:
- Ali Gholizadeh replaced Mehdi Ghayedi (57′)
- Sardar Azmoun replaced Saman Ghoddos (57′)
- Mohammad Ghorbani replaced Saeid Ezatolahi (76′)
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team First Half
The game began with both teams pushing hard to dominate possession. The United Arab Emirates created several early chances, including a corner by Tahnoon Alzaabi in the 6th minute, but their efforts were consistently thwarted by Iran’s defense. The game-changing moment came in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Mehdi Ghayedi found the net, putting IR Iran 1-0 up.
- Goal (45’+3): Mehdi Ghayedi scores for IR Iran with a well-timed finish following a cross.
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team Second Half
In the second half, the United Arab Emirates National Football Team pushed forward aggressively, creating multiple chances. Harib Abdalla and Fabio De Lima were involved in several attacking moves, but IR Iran’s defense, led by goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand, kept them at bay. IR Iran also had opportunities to double their lead, with Mehdi Taremi and Sardar Azmoun coming close. Despite the UAE’s relentless attack in the closing minutes, Iran held firm, securing a vital 1-0 victory.
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team Stats
| UAE vs Iran Stats | United Arab Emirates | IR Iran |
| Possession | 48% | 52% |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 4 |
| Total Shots | 9 | 11 |
| Corners | 6 | 3 |
| Fouls Committed | 12 | 14 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 3 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team Timeline
- 6′ – UAE wins a corner, but Iran’s defense clears.
- 45’+3′ – Goal: Mehdi Ghayedi scores for IR Iran (0-1).
- 48′ – Saman Ghoddos (IR Iran) receives a yellow card.
- 58′ – Substitution: Ali Saleh replaces Yahya Alghassani (UAE).
- 65′ – Fabio De Lima (UAE) comes on to add firepower in attack.
- 85′ – Defensive substitutions by UAE: Fahad Badr and Issam Faiz enter.
- 90’+7′ – Final attempts by UAE, but IR Iran blocks and secures the win.
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team Result
- United Arab Emirates 0-1 IR Iran
- Goal Scorer: Mehdi Ghayedi (45’+3)
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team Impact on Points Table
This victory moved the IR Iran National Football Team up in Group A standings of the FIFA World Cup 26™ AFC Qualifiers, solidifying their position for qualification. The United Arab Emirates National Football Team, on the other hand, missed out on crucial points, putting pressure on their upcoming matches.
United Arab Emirates National Football Team vs IR Iran National Football Team Man of the Match
Mehdi Ghayedi (IR Iran) – Scored the winning goal and was instrumental in maintaining attacking pressure throughout the match.
The FIFA World Cup 26™ AFC Qualifiers fixture between the United Arab Emirates National Football Team and the IR Iran National Football Team was a hard-fought encounter, with Iran emerging victorious thanks to Mehdi Ghayedi’s first-half strike. Despite UAE’s late efforts, they were unable to break down IR Iran’s resilient defense. This result strengthens IR Iran’s bid for qualification while leaving UAE with much work to do in the remaining matches of Group A.
