Football enthusiasm is surging across the UAE as the national team prepares to face Oman in a decisive 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying match tonight in Doha. The clash, kicking off at 9.15 pm UAE time, has become a focal point of national pride, with fans dubbing it the “dream of a nation".
In the buildup to the match, airlines, royals, and sports clubs sponsored private planes to fly supporters to Qatar. Telecom providers and other companies announced giveaways, including free roaming data, to help fans stay connected during the event.
Tickets for the match sold out quickly, prompting the UAE Football Association to arrange public viewing halls at Radisson Blu Hotel’s Joana Hall and Sheraton Hotel’s Majlis Hall. Both venues will open to fans from 6.15 pm, with giant screens broadcasting the game live.
UAE supporters waved flags, sang patriotic songs and chanted in support of the team in Doha.
The UAE, which last qualified for the World Cup in 1990, is now chasing a long-awaited return to the global stage. Following tonight’s fixture, the team will face Qatar on October 14. The group winner will qualify directly for next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the runner-up will move into a playoff against the second-placed side from Group B, which includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Indonesia.
With hopes of ending a 35-year wait, fans across the Emirates are uniting in anticipation of what could be a historic night for UAE football.