Dalic: UAE targeting perfect Gulf Cup finish despite reaching semi-finals

The United Arab Emirates will face Qatar with the top spot in Group B still at stake, despite both teams having already secured their places in the semi-finals of the Gulf Cup 27.

The match will be played at Alinma Stadium at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah in the third and final round of the group stage. UAE coach Zlatko Dalic said his side remained determined to beat the reigning group leaders on goal difference and complete the opening phase at the summit.

The UAE have taken six points from their first two matches, scoring seven goals without conceding. Qatar also have six points and have yet to concede, although they have scored three goals.

“Qatar are a strong team and participated in the 2026 World Cup finals, so facing them will be a particular challenge,” Dalic said at his pre-match news conference.

“But we will try to win and finish top of Group B.”

Dalic’s side began the competition with victories over Yemen and Bahrain, performances which have placed them in a strong position before the knockout stages. However, the Croatian acknowledged the physical demands of playing every three days.

“We produced a high level of performance against Yemen and Bahrain and scored seven goals,” he said. “We play a match every three days, which causes fatigue for the players, but we will try to overcome that.”

The UAE coach also said he was pleased with the progress made after only 10 days of work with the team. He added that he would not make assumptions about the outcome of Group A, where Saudi Arabia and Iraq are due to meet.

“I am enjoying working within the set-up and I am happy with what has been achieved after only 10 days,” Dalic said.

“I will not anticipate what will happen in Group A. I will watch the Saudi Arabia and Iraq match. All the participating teams are strong, and in the end we will face a semi-final opponent that has previously appeared at the latest World Cup.”

Ali Saleh, the UAE midfielder, said qualifying for the semi-finals had not changed the team’s immediate objective. He stressed that the squad wanted to preserve its position at the top of the group rather than settle for simply progressing.

“Every team wants to win, but as a group we are seeking to take maximum points in our group,” Saleh said.

“Our bigger objective is to win the tournament. We will help one another in training and matches to achieve that goal.”