FIFA Arab Cup - Group C: UAE 3-1 Kuwait

Doha: United Arab Emirates booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 after a 3-1 win against Kuwait at Stadium 974 on Tuesday.

The win saw Cosmin Olaroiu’s side finish second behind Jordan in Group C will next take on the Group D winners in their last eight tie on Friday. Kuwait finished bottom of the group with one point.

UAE opened the scoring in the 16th minute after Yahya Al Ghassani was tripped in the box by a clumsy Ahmad Aldhefeery challenge, with the former dusting himself off to convert the penalty.

Kuwait’s inability to refocus immediately was punished two minutes later when they were caught playing out from the back with Caio Lucas finding Al Ghassani, who calmly slotted past Khaled Al Rashidi.

To their credit, Helio Sousa’s side did regain their footing and had an opportunity to halve the deficit when Sultan Al Enezi rose unmarked in the box but just could not hit the target with his header.

Kuwait forced UAE custodian Hamad Almeqbaali to punch away Mohammad Daham’s powerful long range strike three minutes after the restart but their chances of making a comeback suffered a blow in the 55th minute.

Al Enezi was caught recklessly pushing Al Ghassani in an off-the-ball incident for which the Kuwait midfielder was initially shown the yellow card, only for it to be upgraded to red following a VAR review.

Against the odds, Kuwait pulled a goal back four minutes later when Fahed Al Hajri guided Daham’s free-kick past Almeqbaali, only to concede again in the 66th minute after Nicolas Gimenez surged from the halfway line to rifle a shot into the top corner to seal the tie and UAE’s quarter-final spot.

Photos: FIFA via Getty Images

Group C: UAE 3-1 Kuwait

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