Now, solely the final two groups that may compete within the intercontinental playoffs for 2 spots within the 2026 World Cup stay to be decided.
Iraq and the United Arab Emirates performed the second leg of the Asian playoff last this Tuesday (18).
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After a 1-1 draw within the first leg, Iraq got here out on prime with a 2-1 victory in entrance of their house followers on the Basra Worldwide Stadium.
With a objective within the final play of the sport, at 116′.
Qualification got here towards a “Brazil B Nationwide Workforce,” for the reason that United Arab Emirates relied on a number of naturalized Brazilians all through this cycle.
Iraq continues its quest to finish its lengthy drought with out a World Cup look.
Their solely participation was in 1986, in Mexico. They had been eradicated within the group stage.
The gamble did not repay…
There are a number of naturalized gamers on the Emirati nationwide workforce.
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The present squad included ten.
There are seven Brazilians: defenders Lucas Pimenta and Marcus Meloni, midfielders Luanzinho and Gustavo Alemão, and forwards Caio Lucas, Caio Canedo – previously of Botafogo and Inter – and Bruno.
There’s additionally Rúben Canedo, born in Portugal, and the duo Gastón Suárez and Nicolás Giménez, who’re Argentine by delivery.
Midfielder Fábio Lima, who got here up by Icasa and performed for Atlético-GO and Vasco, with 44 caps and 17 objectives, was disregarded. The identical goes for left-back Erik, a product of Inter, with three appearances.
There was DRAMA 🔥
The United Arab Emirates took the lead at 52′.
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Caio Lucas was arrange by Nader and completed previous goalkeeper Hachim.
📸 FADEL SENNA – AFP or Licensors
The equalizer got here from an try by Mohanad Ali, often called Mimi, at 66′. And after a deflection off Nader.
Mimi had two nice probabilities to attain within the last minutes.
Then, within the final minute of stoppage time, got here the decisive second.
A ball into the field was intercepted by the left arm of the protagonist Nader.
The referee was known as to the VAR, reviewed the play, and confirmed the penalty for Iraq.
It was as much as Amir Al-Ammari to take the shot and make historical past at 116′.
The Iraqi dream lives on.
The intercontinental playoffs 👇🏽
New Caledonia (Oceania), Bolivia (South America), and Democratic Republic of Congo (Africa) had been already assured members.
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Solely the 2 representatives from Concacaf stay to be decided.
They would be the two finest second-placed groups among the many three teams. See the main points earlier than the ultimate spherical this Tuesday .
After the ultimate selections, the 2 groups with the best FIFA Rating will go straight to the playoff last. One among them is already DR Congo.
If Panama or Costa Rica qualify immediately for the World Cup, the second spot will go to Iraq. Costa Rica may additionally miss out on the playoffs altogether.
The attracts for the remaining matchups will happen subsequent Thursday (20).
There shall be two semifinals between the opposite 4 groups earlier than the finals. All matches shall be single-leg and performed in March, over the past FIFA window earlier than the World Cup.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 FADEL SENNA – AFP or Licensors