Kyrgyzstan vs United Arab Emirates

Kyrgyzstan vs. UAE: World Cup Qualifier Preview

Last Updated: June 9, 2025 | 12:59 PM

Kyrgyzstan and the United Arab Emirates will wrap up their third-round 2026 World Cup qualifying campaigns on Tuesday at Bishkek’s Dolen Omurzakov Stadium.

With both teams' fates already sealed, this match is more about pride than progression. Still, after grinding out draws in their last outings, each side will be eager to end on a high note with a victory.

Match Preview

Kyrgyzstan: Fighting for Momentum

Kyrgyzstan’s dream of a first-ever World Cup appearance ended early after six losses in their first seven qualifiers. However, with the pressure off, Maksim Lisitsyn’s squad has shown resilience lately—snatching a stunning 3-1 win over Qatar in March before a hard-fought 2-2 draw against North Korea last week.

While defensive struggles persist, their attack has found a spark, with five of their 11 qualifying goals coming in the last two matches. Midfielder Gulzhigit Alykulov has been key, contributing to goals in back-to-back games off the bench.

Now, the White Falcons have a chance to go three games unbeaten for the first time in over a year. But history isn’t on their side—they’ve lost all three previous meetings against the UAE, including a 3-0 defeat in November.

UAE: Playoff Bound, But Seeking a Strong Finish

The UAE’s hopes of automatic qualification slipped away after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Uzbekistan last week. Despite dominating possession, Cosmin Olăroiu’s men couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed.

Now, the Sons of Zayed must wait for the fourth-round playoffs, where they’ll compete for one of the final World Cup spots. Though they enter as the highest-ranked third-placed team (14 points from 9 matches), that advantage disappears in the next round—where all six teams start from scratch.

Since beating Kyrgyzstan in November, the UAE has struggled for consistency, winning just two of their last seven games. With crucial playoff matches looming in October, they’ll want to regain momentum before the next challenge.