The technical staff of the national team, led by Portuguese coach Paulo Bento, is developing an integrated preparation program in preparation for the start of a new phase in the “Al-Abyad” journey, which will begin preparing for the Gulf Championship, after the end of the matches of the tenth round of the ADNOC Professional League, which will conclude on the 17th of this month.
A source told «Emirates Today» that the preparation program includes two stages, the first is related to preparing for the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup scheduled in Kuwait during the period from the 21st of this month to the third of next January, and the second is related to participating in the final stage of the third round of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which remains. During which there will be four decisive matches, starting next March, with the national team’s match against its Iranian counterpart on March 20.
Through his follow-up of the league matches, Pinto monitors the levels of players in preparation for choosing the official roster with which the Emirati White will play its matches in the upcoming Gulf Championship.
The team occupies third place in the World Cup qualifiers with 10 points, behind the leading Iranian team (16 points), and third-placed Uzbekistan (13 points).
The team will launch its matches in the Arabian Gulf Cup by meeting its Qatari counterpart on the 21st of this month in the first group, which also includes Kuwait and Oman.
Schedule of the national team’s matches in “Gulf 26”
UAE – Qatar: December 21.
UAE – Kuwait: December 24.
UAE – Oman: December 27.
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