The UAE national team, known as Al Abyad (The Whites), have appeared once at the FIFA World Cup in 1990, exiting in the group stage. Regionally, they were runners-up at the AFC Asian Cup in 1996 and reached the semi-finals in both 2015 and 2019. Still seeking a second World Cup appearance, they remain competitive under coach Paulo Bento as 2026 qualifiers continue.Â