The United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAEFA) dismissed national team head coach Paulo Bento on Wednesday morning, just hours after his side secured a vital 2-1 victory over North Korea in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Sultan Adil’s dramatic stoppage-time winner in Riyadh on Tuesday kept the UAE’s hopes of automatic qualification alive, reducing the gap to second-placed Uzbekistan in Group A to four points. The two nations are scheduled to meet in a potentially decisive penultimate qualifier on June 5th.
Despite the crucial win, the UAEFA announced Bento’s departure, along with his coaching staff, via social media on Wednesday, March 26th.
Bento, a Portuguese coach who previously led Portugal to the Euro 2012 semi-finals and South Korea to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, took charge of the UAE in July 2023. During his tenure, the team recorded 14 wins, 6 draws, and 6 losses.
The top two teams from each of Asia’s three qualifying groups earn a direct berth to the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. While Bento will not see out the campaign, the UAE are already assured of a place in the fourth round of qualifying should they fail to overtake Uzbekistan in their remaining matches against them and Kyrgyzstan. Iran have already qualified as Group A winners.
The timing of Bento’s dismissal, immediately following a win that kept direct qualification hopes alive, is notable and raises questions about the reasons behind the decision.
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