Iraq and UAE will lock horns at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday in a 2022 World Cup qualifier with both countries still harbouring hopes of qualifying for this year’s World Cup.
Iraq is currently fifth in Group A playoff place in Asian qualifying with just five points from eight matches. Iraq has been scored against in 5 of their previous 6 games, giving up 7 goals along the way. They are the lowest scorers in this stage of Asian qualifying with just four goals in eight games.
Iraq will be hoping for more of the same after a 3-1 International Friendlies success against Zambia. In that match, Iraq had almost full possession, three shots with three of them on target and goals scored by Aymen Hussein (78’), Ahmad Ibrahim (23’) and Dhurgham Ismael (10’). Scorer for Zambia was Saad Natiq (29’, OG).
Al Abyad is third in Group A with nine points from eight games. In 5 of their last 6 outings UAE and opponents have had a low number of goals with overall average goals scored tallying to 1.87 with UAE equaling 0.83.
UAE and their travelling supporters will be hoping that they can get a better result in this one following a 1-0 defeat to Iran. In that match, UAE had 61% possession, 11 shots with 4 of them on target. Iran had 13 shots with 5 of them on target and a goal by Mehdi Taremi (44’).
Iraq vs UAE head to head
These two teams have had 12 encounters since 2008. UAE has 5 victories; Iraq has 4 victories and 3 matches ended in a stalemate.
- UAE 2-2 Iraq 12/10/21
- UAE 0-0 Iraq 12/01/21
- UAE 0-2 Iraq 29/11/19
- Iraq 2-4 UAE 02/01/18
- Iraq 1-0 UAE 05/09/17
Home
- Lebanon 1-1 Iraq
- Iran 1-0 Iraq
- Qatar 3-0 Iraq
- Bahrain 0-0 Iraq
- Iraq 1-1 Oman
Away
- Iran 1-0 UAE
- UAE 2-0 Syria
- Qatar 5-0 UAE
- Tunisia 1-0 UAE
- Mauritania 0-1 UAE
Iraq team news
Dick Advocaat will miss the services of Mohanad Ali, Alaa Abdul-Zahra due to injuries.
UAE team news
Rodolfo Arruabarrena will have a full squad to choose from.
Prediction and odds
Both teams are clinging on to their lives here, which could see them cancel each other out they also played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in qualifying.
- Draw
- Both teams to score
- Goals over 2.5
