United Arab Emirates national football team facts for kids
The United Arab Emirates national football team (often called Al Abyad, meaning The Whites) represents the United Arab Emirates in men's international football. It is managed by the United Arab Emirates Football Association.
The team played in one World Cup in 1990 in Italy. They lost all three of their games there. The UAE team also achieved great results in the AFC Asian Cup, finishing fourth in 1992 and runners-up in 1996 when they hosted the tournament. They won the Arabian Gulf Cup twice, in 2007 and 2013. In the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, they came in third place. They also hosted the 2019 tournament, reaching the semi-finals.
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Nickname(s) | Al Abyad (The Whites) Eyal Zayed (Sons of Zayed) |
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Association | United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAE FA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confederation | AFC (Asia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sub-confederation | WAFF (West Asia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coach | Cosmin Olăroiu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Captain | Khalid Eisa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most caps | Adnan Al Talyani (161) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top scorer | Ali Mabkhout (85) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home stadium | Various | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIFA code | UAE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FIFA ranking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current | 67 ![]() |
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Highest | 40 (November – December 1998) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lowest | 138 (January 2012) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elo ranking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current | 87 ![]() |
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Highest | 24 (15 January 2015) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lowest | 140 (September 1981) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First international | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 17 March 1972) |
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Biggest win | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; 14 April 2001) |
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Biggest defeat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 12 November 2005) |
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World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 1 (first in 1990) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Group stage (1990) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asian Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 12 (first in 1980) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Runners-up (1996) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arab Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 2 (first in 1998) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Fourth place (1998) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabian Gulf Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 24 (first in 1972) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Champions (2007, 2013) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confederations Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 1 (first in 1997) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Group stage (1997) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Contents
Team History and Achievements
The UAE national football team played its first match on March 17, 1972. They won 1–0 against Qatar. After that, they played against other Arabian countries. They lost to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait but beat Bahrain.
Early Asian Cup Appearances
In 1980, the United Arab Emirates qualified for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time. The tournament was held in Kuwait. They drew one match and lost three, finishing ninth overall. They also qualified for the next two tournaments in 1984 and 1988. They were eliminated in the group stages both times. Their first win in the tournament was against India in 1984.
Reaching the World Cup
In 1990, the UAE team qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. This was a huge achievement! However, they lost all three of their games in the tournament. Their journey to the World Cup was even made into a documentary called Lights of Rome.
Success in the 1990s and 2000s
The team continued to improve. In the 1992 and 1996 tournaments, they finished fourth and second, respectively. They also played in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.
After a few tough years, the UAE team appointed Bruno Metsu as their new manager in 2006. He led them to win the 2007 Arabian Gulf Cup title.
Recent Achievements and Challenges
In 2012, Mahdi Ali, who had coached the Olympic team, became the manager of the senior team. He brought in many young players he had worked with before. Under his leadership, the UAE won their second Arabian Gulf Cup title in 2013.
At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, the UAE had a great run. They beat Qatar and Bahrain in the group stage. In the quarter-finals, they defeated defending champions Japan in a penalty shootout. They lost to Australia in the semi-finals but won the third-place play-off against Iraq.
The UAE hosted the 2019 AFC Asian Cup again. They reached the semi-finals, where they lost to Qatar. In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the team faced some challenges. They brought in new players and coaches. They managed to reach the final playoff round but lost to Australia, missing out on the World Cup.
Team Rivalries
The UAE team has strong rivalries with other teams in the region. Their main rivals are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Iran.
Rivalry with Qatar
The matches against Qatar are always very competitive, especially in the Arabian Gulf Cup. These games have become even more intense over time. For example, in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Qatar beat the UAE 4–0. This was a big moment as Qatar had not beaten the UAE by such a large margin since 2001.
Rivalry with Saudi Arabia
Another big rival is Saudi Arabia. They have met many times in the Arabian Gulf Cup. They also played in two AFC Asian Cup matches. Saudi Arabia won in the semi-finals of the 1992 Asian Cup. In the 1996 final, which the UAE hosted, the game ended in a draw. Saudi Arabia won the trophy after a penalty shootout. When these two teams play in World Cup qualifiers, their matches are often called "clashes of titans."
Team Identity
Team Kit
The UAE's home kit is usually all white with some red details. Their away kit is all red with white details. In 2019, they also used black for their away kit for the first time, with some green details.
Manufacturer | Period |
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1979–1985 |
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1986–1989 |
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1990–1994 |
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1995–1996 |
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1997–1999 |
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2000–2001 |
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2002–2005 |
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2006–2008 |
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2009–2013 |
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2014–present |
Team Nicknames
The team is known as Al-Abyad, which means "The Whites." This name comes from their white home jersey. They are also called Eyal Zayed, meaning "Zayed's sons," honoring the founder of the UAE.
Home Stadiums
The UAE national team plays its home games at various stadiums across the country. The most common venue is Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Other important stadiums include Al Jazira Stadium and Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
Recent Matches and Upcoming Games
Here are some of the recent match results and future games for the UAE national football team.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
Matches in 2024
- June 6, 2024:
Nepal 0–4
United Arab Emirates (Win)
- June 11, 2024:
United Arab Emirates 1–1
Bahrain (Draw)
- September 5, 2024:
Qatar 1–3
United Arab Emirates (Win)
- September 10, 2024:
United Arab Emirates 0–1
Iran (Loss)
- October 10, 2024:
United Arab Emirates 1–1
North Korea (Draw)
- October 15, 2024:
Uzbekistan 1–0
United Arab Emirates (Loss)
- November 14, 2024:
United Arab Emirates 3–0
Kyrgyzstan (Win)
- November 19, 2024:
United Arab Emirates 5–0
Qatar (Win)
- December 21, 2024:
Qatar 1–1
United Arab Emirates (Draw)
- December 24, 2024:
United Arab Emirates 1–2
Kuwait (Loss)
- December 27, 2024:
United Arab Emirates 1–1
Oman (Draw)
Matches in 2025
- March 20, 2025:
Iran 2–0
United Arab Emirates (Loss)
- March 25, 2025:
North Korea 1–2
United Arab Emirates (Win)
- June 5, 2025:
United Arab Emirates 0–0
Uzbekistan (Draw)
- June 10, 2025:
Kyrgyzstan 1–1
United Arab Emirates (Draw)
- October 11, 2025:
United Arab Emirates vs
Oman (Upcoming)
- October 14, 2025:
Qatar vs
United Arab Emirates (Upcoming)
- December 2025:
United Arab Emirates vs
Egypt (Upcoming)
- December 2025:
United Arab Emirates vs
Jordan (Upcoming)
- December 2025:
United Arab Emirates vs
Kuwait/
Mauritania (Upcoming)
Team Staff
The team has a dedicated staff to help them perform their best.
Last Update: April 2025
Current Players
Here are the players who were recently called up for the team.
Caps (games played) and goals are correct as of June 10, 2025.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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1 | GK | Ali Khasif | 9 June 1987 | 73 | 0 | ![]() |
17 | GK | Khalid Eisa (captain) | 15 September 1989 | 89 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | GK | Hamad Al-Meqebaali | 13 July 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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2 | DF | Saša Ivković | 13 May 1993 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Lucas Pimenta | 17 July 2000 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Kouame Autonne | 22 September 2000 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
12 | DF | Khalifa Al Hammadi | 7 November 1998 | 53 | 2 | ![]() |
13 | DF | Bader Nasser | 16 September 2001 | 14 | 0 | ![]() |
14 | DF | Abdulrahman Saleh | 13 October 2002 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
16 | DF | Marcus Meloni | 25 June 2000 | 10 | 1 | ![]() |
19 | DF | Alaeddine Zouhir | 7 March 2000 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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5 | MF | Mohammed Abdulbasit | 19 October 1995 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | MF | Abdullah Ramadan | 7 March 1998 | 49 | 1 | ![]() |
7 | MF | Ali Saleh | 22 January 2000 | 43 | 6 | ![]() |
8 | MF | Abdulla Hamad | 18 September 2001 | 20 | 0 | ![]() |
9 | MF | Harib Abdalla | 26 November 2002 | 39 | 8 | ![]() |
10 | MF | Yahya Al-Ghassani | 18 April 1998 | 32 | 9 | ![]() |
15 | MF | Yahia Nader | 11 September 1998 | 21 | 0 | ![]() |
21 | MF | Luan Pereira | 21 April 2000 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
MF | Fábio Lima | 30 June 1993 | 40 | 17 | ![]() |
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MF | Majed Hassan | 1 August 1992 | 69 | 1 | ![]() |
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11 | FW | Caio Canedo | 9 August 1990 | 56 | 10 | ![]() |
18 | FW | Lithierry | 14 May 2001 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | FW | Álvaro de Oliveira | 27 May 2001 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | FW | Bruno de Oliveira | 10 June 2001 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
FW | Caio Lucas | 19 April 1994 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Junior Ndiaye | 29 March 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
Player Records
These are some of the top players in the history of the UAE national team.
- Players in bold are still active with United Arab Emirates.
Most Games Played
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
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1 | Adnan Al-Talyani | 161 | 52 | 1983–1997 |
2 | Ismail Matar | 136 | 36 | 2003–2021 |
3 | Subait Khater | 120 | 11 | 1999–2011 |
4 | Ismail Al Hammadi | 116 | 13 | 2007–2019 |
Abdulrahim Jumaa | 116 | 13 | 1998–2009 | |
6 | Ali Mabkhout | 115 | 85 | 2009–2023 |
7 | Zuhair Bakheet | 112 | 27 | 1988–2002 |
Abdulsalam Jumaa | 112 | 7 | 1997–2010 | |
9 | Muhsin Musabah | 107 | 0 | 1988–1999 |
10 | Walid Abbas | 106 | 6 | 2008–2023 |
Top Goal Scorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
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1 | Ali Mabkhout (list) | 85 | 115 | 0.74 | 2009–2023 |
2 | Adnan Al-Talyani | 52 | 161 | 0.32 | 1983–1997 |
3 | Ahmed Khalil | 48 | 104 | 0.46 | 2008–2019 |
4 | Ismail Matar | 36 | 136 | 0.26 | 2003–2021 |
5 | Fahad Khamees | 28 | 68 | 0.41 | 1981–1990 |
Mohammad Omar | 28 | 102 | 0.27 | 1996–2009 | |
7 | Zuhair Bakheet | 27 | 112 | 0.24 | 1988–2002 |
8 | Fabio Lima | 17 | 40 | 0.43 | 2020–present |
9 | Saeed Al Kass | 15 | 60 | 0.25 | 1998–2013 |
10 | Faisal Khalil | 13 | 61 | 0.21 | 2001–2010 |
Ismail Al Hammadi | 13 | 116 | 0.11 | 2007–2019 | |
Abdulrahim Jumaa | 13 | 116 | 0.11 | 1998–2009 |
Team Honours
The UAE national football team has won several awards and titles.
Continental Achievements
Regional Championships
Friendly Tournament Wins
- Friendship Tournament (2): 1996, 1998, 2000
- Kirin Cup (1): 2005
- OSN Cup (1): 2013
- LG Cup (1): 2000
- Oman Cup (1): 2000
Summary of Official Honours
These are the main official awards the team has won.
Senior Competition | ![]() |
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Total |
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AFC Asian Cup | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Total | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos para niños