UAE Football Association removes head coach Paulo Bento from position

Photo : Instagram / @alkassenglish

The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) has removed Paulo Bento from his job as head coach of the UAE national football team. The decision was made public on Wednesday, just one day after the UAE won an important match against North Korea in the AFC World Cup qualifiers. Along with Bento, his coaching team has also been removed, UAEFA said in a statement.

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Even though the UAE won the match, their chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is still not clear. Right now, they have 13 points and are in third place in Group A. If they finish in second place, they will qualify directly for the World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. There are still two more matches left in the group stage, and the team needs strong performances to secure their spot.

UAEFA shared the news about Bento’s removal on social media, saying they had decided to let him and his team go. The decision surprised many, as Bento had been leading the team since July 2023. During his time, the UAE won 14 matches, drew six, and lost six.

Bento is an experienced coach with a strong history. He was the head coach of Portugal’s national team and helped them reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. He also coached South Korea’s national team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and led them to the Round of 16.

Even though he had some good results with the UAE, his time with the team ended early. Now, UAEFA must find a new coach quickly, as the team still has important matches ahead in the World Cup qualifiers.