Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
UAE national team coach Cosmin Olaroiu has called on his players to prepare for a physical and mental battle after the draw for the 2027 Asian Cup placed the Whites in a challenging Group E alongside continental giants South Korea.
The draw for the 19th edition of the tournament, held on Saturday evening at the historic Salwa Palace in Riyadh's Al Turaif district, saw the UAE pegged as second seeds in a group that also features Vietnam and the winner of a final qualifying play-off between Lebanon and Yemen.
While South Korea, two-time winners of the competition, represent the primary threat in the opening phase, Olaroiu was quick to dismiss any notion of satisfaction regarding the path ahead or talk about any rival in their group.
The Romanian tactician – speaking shortly after a glittering ceremony in a serene, heritage setting in Diriyah – emphasised that the calibre of the competition requires a shift in mindset from his squad if they are to satisfy the growing expectations of the Emirati faithful.
"We cannot say we are happy or unhappy with this kind of draw because all the best teams are here; all the best players will be always here in this competition," Olaroiu said.
"We have to be worried actually because we need to be prepared in this competition. You have to exceed your limits to achieve that dream that all the team will have when they start the competition."
The tournament, which kicks off on January 7 next year, marks the first time Saudi Arabia has hosted the continental showpiece. Matches are set to be played across Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, with the final taking place at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium on February 5.
It will also be a dress rehearsal of sorts for the Kingdom, who have also won the rights to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. With football's popularity surging across the region, Olaroiu is acutely aware of the responsibility his team carries to perform on such a high-profile stage.
"I know. And you see, year by year, the increase in the number of supporters and fans becomes more and more and interest in football in Asia becomes bigger," the coach noted when asked about the expectations of the travelling UAE supporters.
"And with this competition, we hope that it will become bigger. And the most important, we have to not disappoint fans and to do the best that we can, the maximum that we can to reach their dream."
The UAE will look to secure one of the two automatic qualification spots for the Round of 16, which begins on January 22. Standing in their way is a South Korean side expected to be among the favourites for the title, and a resilient Vietnam team that has frequently proven to be a difficult opponent for Gulf nations in recent years. If Yemen make it through, they will also provide the extra needle in the Gulf derby clash.
Elsewhere in the draw, hosts Saudi Arabia were placed in Group A with Kuwait, Oman and Palestine. Group F appears to be the most competitive pool, featuring record four-time winners Japan alongside defending champions Qatar.
Draw:
Group A: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine
Group B: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, DPR Korea, Jordan
Group C: IR Iran, Syria, Kyrgyz Republic, China PR
Group D: Australia, Tajikistan, Iraq, Singapore
Group E: Korea Republic, UAE, Vietnam, Lebanon/Yemen
Group F: Japan, Qatar, Thailand, Indonesia
