UAE Overview

Former Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic has completed a swift return to international management by taking charge of the United Arab Emirates national team. The 59-year-old coach has signed on to lead the Gulf state into a new era, just a month after he ended his nine-year tenure with Croatia following their World Cup exit.

Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.