The United Arab Emirates and Iraq played to a 1-1 draw in Abu Dhabi, leaving their bid for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff finely balanced ahead of the decisive second leg.
The match, held on Thursday, was the first leg of the final Asian Football Confederation (AFC) playoff round.
Iraq took an early lead when Ali AL Hamadi scored in the 10th minute.
The UAE quickly responded, with Luan Pereira finding the equalizer just eight minutes later, leveling the score at 1-1.
The score remained unchanged through the second half, setting up a winner-take-all second leg.
The return fixture is scheduled for Tuesday in Basra, Iraq, with kickoff at 3:00 PM UTC.
The winner of this two-match series will secure the sole Asian representative spot in the crucial intercontinental playoff.
Both nations are striving to make their second appearance in the World Cup finals.
Iraq last qualified for the tournament in 1986, while the UAE made their debut in 1990.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The tournament, featuring an expanded format with 48 teams for the first time, is slated to run from June 11 to July 19.