🎥 Imported Brazilians take Middle East side close to Copa | OneFootball

The United Arab Emirates national team has moved closer to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup — it only has the 1990 edition on its résumé.

And it did so with more than decisive contributions from players born in Brazil.

Marcus Meloni and Caio Lucas secured the 2-1 comeback over Oman this Saturday (11).

The result counts for the second round of the Fourth Phase of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The current phase brings together six national teams divided into two groups.

Only the group winner after round-robin games (two) goes directly to the World Cup.

The runners-up face each other in a playoff to determine Asia’s representative in the intercontinental playoff.

The United Arab Emirates made their debut this Saturday and will now have the advantage of a draw against Qatar — who drew with Oman — next Tuesday (14).

The other group already has Indonesia — coached by Patrick Kluivert — eliminated after a 1-0 defeat to Iraq also this Saturday.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq have three points each and will decide the direct spot, with the Saudis holding the edge on goals scored.

Qataris and Saudis will play at home, as they are hosting their respective groups.

Iraq also has only one World Cup in its history, in 1986.

There are SEVERAL naturalized players

The United Arab Emirates took the field with a total of six players born in other countries.

Besides defender and midfielder Meloni, who came through Palmeiras’ academy, and forward Caio Lucas, fellow midfielder Fábio Lima and center-back Lucas Pimenta were the other naturalized Brazilians who started.

Meanwhile, Caio Canedo, formerly of Botafogo and Internacional, came on in the second half. Bruno de Oliveira and Erik were still options on the bench.

📸 KARIM JAAFAR - AFP or licensors

The other “imported foreigners” who started: Portuguese full-back Rúben Amaral and Argentine midfielder Nicolás Giménez.

Caio Canedo has already surpassed the 50-game mark for the United Arab Emirates. And Fábio Lima — who had spells at Vasco and Atlético-GO — has more than 40.

The list of players born in other countries who have recently represented the team also includes Brazilians Luanzinho, Lithierry, and Gustavo Alemão, for example.

They didn’t go far in their only World Cup

Their only World Cup appearance, in 1990 in Italy, ended without victories.

They fell into Group D, which also had future champions West Germany, Yugoslavia, and Colombia.

They failed to score against Higuita, Rincón, and Valderrama in a 2-0 defeat, but managed a goal in losses to Germany (5-1) and Yugoslavia (4-1).

All the qualified teams 👇🏽

AFC - Asia

🇦🇺 Australia - 🇰🇷 South Korea - 🇮🇷 Iran - 🇯🇵 Japan - 🇯🇴 Jordan (debut) - 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan (debut)

CAF - Africa

🇲🇦 Morocco - 🇹🇳 Tunisia - 🇪🇬 Egypt - 🇩🇿 Algeria

Concacaf - Central and North America

🇨🇦 Canada (host nation) - 🇺🇸 United States (host nation) - 🇲🇽 Mexico (host nation)

Conmebol - South America

🇦🇷 Argentina - 🇧🇷 Brazil - 🇨🇴 Colombia - 🇪🇨 Ecuador - 🇵🇾 Paraguay - 🇺🇾 Uruguay

OFC - Oceania

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Allocation of spots

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 KARIM JAAFAR - AFP or licensors