Iraq overturned the tie with a stoppage-time penalty to beat the UAE 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate, advancing to the intercontinental playoff. Amir Al-Ammari converted the penalty in the 17th minute of added time after a late handball in the box. Caio Lucas had given the UAE the lead early in the second half before Mohanad Ali equalized with a header. Iraq will join five other nations in March to fight for two World Cup berths.
Dramatic Stoppage-Time Penalty Sends Iraq to Intercontinental Playoff, Beats UAE 3-2 on Aggregate
Iraq overturned the tie with a stoppage-time penalty to beat the UAE 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate, advancing to the intercontinental playoff. Amir Al-Ammari converted the penalty in the 17th minute of added time after a late handball in the box. Caio Lucas had given the UAE the lead early in the second half before Mohanad Ali equalized with a header. Iraq will join five other nations in March to fight for two World Cup berths.
04:16 AM, 11/19/2025Culture
BASRA — Iraq kept its 2026 World Cup hopes alive with a dramatic late finish, overturning the tie to defeat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate in Asian qualifying.
Amir Al-Ammari stepped up in the 17th minute of stoppage time to convert a decisive penalty, sending Iraq into the intercontinental playoff round scheduled for March. The teams had met in a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Abu Dhabi.
How it unfolded
The match opened cautiously, but the second half swung in the UAE's favor when Caio Lucas put the visitors ahead seven minutes after the interval. Iraq responded through Mohanad Ali, who headed home from a free kick midway through the second half to level the score and set up a tense finish.
Deep into added time, a handball in the penalty area gave Iraq a final opportunity. Al-Ammari calmly converted from the spot to spark jubilant scenes in Basra and keep Iraq’s World Cup dream alive.
What’s next
With the result, Iraq advances to the intercontinental playoff in March, where six teams from five confederations will compete for two remaining spots at the 2026 World Cup. The UAE’s qualifying campaign comes to an end with this loss.
Key facts: Final score — Iraq 2, UAE 1 (3-2 on aggregate). Decisive moment — penalty by Amir Al-Ammari in the 17th minute of stoppage time. Next stage — intercontinental playoff in March.