Emirates Today learned that a number of players who recently obtained Emirati citizenship are candidates to join the first national football team during the coming period after fulfilling all the conditions that qualify them to wear the “white” shirt, most notably the Sharjah duo, Luan Pereira (24 years old) and Caio Lucas (24 years old). 30 years old), and Al-Wahda defender Sasha (31 years old), before Al-Abyad’s upcoming match against its Iranian counterpart next March 20 in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The team currently includes six players with Emirati citizenship: Marcos Meloni (Sharjah), Bruno Oliveira (Al Jazira), Kwame Koidu (Al Ain), goalkeeper Adly Mohammed (Southampton, England), Mackenzie Hunt (Fleetward, England), and Junior Nyday (Montpellier, France). ).
The team has four fateful matches remaining against Iran, North Korea, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
The “White” team ranks third with 10 points, behind Iran (16 points) and runner-up Uzbekistan (13 points).
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento seeks to prepare the team early for the remaining rounds of the World Cup qualifiers, in addition to good preparation for the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait next December.
For his part, Ali Thani, a member of the Sharjah Football Company and former World Cup player, told Emirates Al-Youm, “The joining of distinguished players such as Caio Lucas and Luan Pereira will enhance the possibility of the team superiority over its Iranian counterpart, and in the event of victory, it will thus guarantee obtaining the qualification card.” To the World Cup 100%.”
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