KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)

The UAE's qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on a dismal final note with a last-minute penalty to Iraq in Basra undoing all the months of hard work.

UAE took the lead but it was Iraq who emerged 2-1 winners to seal the Asian team's spot in a final six-team intercontinental play-off tournament.

The left foot of Ali Al Ammari proved the decisive factor for the hosts after the first part of the tie had ended in 1-1 at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium last Thursday.

There it was Iraq who took the lead before UAE could find an equaliser. The Whites had found the winner in injury time but VAR ruled the goal out.

The tables turned on Tuesday. A split-second unforced error from Yahya Nader meant a penalty goal was conceded after VAR intervened. Al Ammari sent Khaled Eisa the wrong way, with no time left on the clock to stage a comeback. It was Al Ammari's free-kick from the left sideline which was met by Mohanad Ali's header in the 65th minute that allowed Iraq back into the game.

Incidentally, about 15 minutes earlier, Caio Lucas, the scorer of UAE's first goal had found the net but VAR had ruled him offside.

The match began at an energetic pace. The first ten minutes saw wave after wave of moves from both sides, but the best big chance went abegging by Bruno de Oliveira.

Iraq had almost gifted the visitors an early advantage when some slack play between Akam Hashim and goalkeeper Jalal Hassan allowed Oliveira to steal in, only to see the ball fly just wide of the goal.

Too eager to find the goal, Ruben Philipe had two half-baked shots taken at the goal while Eisa in the UAE goal proved alert as both sides went back into tunnel without any goals to show.

Lucas, who was either a second too late or too early in the first half, finally got his run right in the seventh minute after the second half. Released timely by Nader, Lucas had no problems volleying into the far post.

Thirteen minutes late, a distant free-kick was floated in by Al Ammari and Mohanad Ali got the equaliser for Iraq, who now will be the team from the Middle East to go forward on the journey to make it to the final draw for the World Cup in United States, Canada, and Mexico.