UAE dismisses national team coach Paulo Bento
- 26 Mar 2025
Paulo Bento looks on prior the Asian Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Tajikistan and UAE at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Qatar. File / AP
The UAE Football Association has decided to dismiss the head coach of the national team, Portuguese Paulo Bento, along with his coaching staff.
A replacement is expected to be named soon to lead the team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and other official competitions.
His replacement will coach the team in the two final matches of the World Cup qualifiers against second-placed Uzbekistan on June 5 and second from bottom Kyrgyzstan on June 10.
A win over Uzbekistan would reignite their hopes of reaching the finals.
Bento, 55, was appointed to his position in July 2023, but has overseen a series of inconsistent results in the qualifiers, including a 2-0 loss to Iran in Tehran last Thursday.
