The UAE national mini football team secured a commanding 13–1 victory over Japan on 15 September 2026 in the third round of the Asian Mini Football Championship, currently being held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The result earned the UAE three valuable points, taking the national team’s tally to six points in Group B. The UAE had previously defeated Pakistan 4–1 in the second round of the competition.
The national team will face Uzbekistan on 16 September in the fourth and final round of the group stage in a decisive match that will determine the UAE’s qualification prospects for the semi-finals of the Asian Championship and the 2027 World Cup.
Uzbekistan currently lead Group B with nine points from three victories, having defeated Syria, Pakistan and Japan in their opening matches.
The UAE must secure a victory against Uzbekistan to advance, with the head-to-head record set to play a decisive role in determining the final qualification positions in the group.
Sarmad Al Zadjali, Executive Director of the UAE Mini Football Committee, stressed the importance of the upcoming match, noting that the players are fully aware of the significance of securing a victory against Uzbekistan following their historic result against Japan.
Al Zadjali also highlighted the difficulty of the decisive encounter, as its outcome will determine the identity of the team progressing from Group B to the next stage of the continental competition and the World Cup qualification pathway.
The UAE national team entered the Asian Championship following an intensive preparation programme that included more than two months of training and preparation in Dubai.
The Asian Championship in Indonesia also serves as a qualifying competition for the 2027 Mini Football World Cup in the Czech Republic, making the final group-stage match particularly significant for the UAE national team.
Following the emphatic victory over Japan, the UAE will now turn its attention to Uzbekistan, with qualification dependent on achieving the required result in the decisive final group match.