UAE Defeated by Uzbekistan in World Cup Qualifiers; Australia Draws with Japan

Otabek Shukurov’s late penalty secured a 1-0 victory for Uzbekistan against the UAE, maintaining their unbeaten start in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match, held in Tashkent, saw the UAE reduced to ten men after Abdulla Hamad was sent off in the 65th minute for a dangerous tackle on Sherzod Nasrullaev.

Shukurov converted the penalty in the 76th minute, solidifying Uzbekistan’s position at the top of the group with 10 points from four matches. Meanwhile, the UAE, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1990, remain on four points.

In other matches, Australia halted Japan’s nine-match winning streak in World Cup qualifiers, settling for a 1-1 draw against the Group C leaders. Shogo Taniguchi inadvertently scored an own goal in the 58th minute, giving the Socceroos an unexpected lead. However, substitute Keito Nakamura equalized for Japan, setting up Cameron Burgess for another own goal that leveled the match with 14 minutes to go.

Japan now sits on 10 points from four games, while Australia trails with five points. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, who play later, are just one point behind. In Group C, China achieved their first win by defeating Indonesia 2-1, with goals from Behram Abduweli and Zhang Yuning in the first half.