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UAE appoint Romanian Olaroiu to replace Bento as head coach

DUBAI: Cosmin Olaroiu has been appointed United Arab Emirates head coach, the country’s FA announced on Saturday. The 55-year-old Romanian takes over from Portuguese Paulo Bento, who was fired last month despite a last-gasp win over North Korea in Asia’s World Cup qualifiers. The UAE are third in Group A of the preliminaries for the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The first two finishers in each of Asia’s three groups progress automatically to the World Cup while the third- and fourth-placed teams advance to another round. Iran have already claimed one of the two berths available from Group A while second-placed Uzbekistan are four points clear of the UAE with two matches remaining. Olaroiu has spent the last three-and-a-half seasons with UAE club Sharjah, and last week guided the team into the final of the AFC Champions League Two. He has worked extensively in the Gulf region, coaching Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Qatar’s Al-Sadd and Emirati side Al-Ain before moving to China, where he won the Chinese Super League title with Jiangsu Suning in 2020. Olaroiu’s first game in charge of the UAE will be their World Cup qualifier at home to Uzbekistan on June 5.

Saudi Arabia down Korea to move into Asia U17 final

TAIF: Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi was the hero once more on Thursday as Saudi Arabia beat South Korea on penalties to move into the final of the U17 Asian Cup. After 90 minutes of tense final semifinal action ended 1-1, the goalkeeper saved two spot kicks to give the young Green Falcons a 3-1 shootout victory. Roared on by thousands of fans at the Okadh Stadium in the western city of Taif, the hosts, who last won the title way back in 1988, found it difficult however to get past the South Koreans who were looking for a third title in total. Both had squeezed through their respective quarter-finals via a penalty shootout, Saudi Arabia defeating Japan while Korea got past Tajikistan, and it was not a surprise that the opening exchange were relatively quiet.

North Korean commando involved in plot to kill South Korean president dies at 82

A former North Korean commando who took part in a failed 1968 mission to assassinate the then South Korean president has died at the age of 82.

Debenhams' 'powerful' £60 night cream slashed to £9 in better than Boots £10 Tuesday sale

Beauty buffs looking for their latest skincare fill will want to skip over Boots' £10 Tuesday sale in favour of Debenhams. The online retailer has slashed the price of a powerful night moisturiser to a price that's too good to miss.

Surprise Bento dismissal raises questions about rest of UAE World Cup qualifying campaign

DUBAI: It takes something special to top the drama of a 98th-minute winner which kept UAE dreams of automatic World Cup 2026 qualification alive.

Son blames bad pitches as South Korea slip up in World Cup qualifying

Son Heung-min blamed South Korea’s shoddy pitches for their 2026 World Cup qualifying struggles after a 1-1 draw with Jordan left them sweating on an automatic place at the tournament.

Iran qualify for 2026 World Cup

Perennial World Cup participants Iran became the second Asian side to secure their place at next year’s global showpiece after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Uzbekistan in Tehran on Tuesday.

Paulo Bento fired as head coach of the UAE national football team

Paulo Bento has been fired as head coach of the United Arab Emirates football team just hours after a 2-1 win Tuesday over North Korea kept alive its slim automatic hopes of qualification for the 2026 World Cup. That victory, which came with a goal in the 98th minute, puts the UAE four points behind second-place Uzbekistan in Group A with two games remaining. The top two teams from each of the three Asian groups are guaranteed a place in the tournament to be hosted next year by the United States, Canada and Mexico. “The UAE Football Association has decided to dismiss the head coach of the national team, Paulo Bento, along with his coaching staff,” the UAE football association posted on social media. The 55-year-old Portuguese coach led South Korea to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, 10 years after he took Portugal to the last four of the European Championships.

Contacts

North Korea Sport News

UAE appoint Romanian Olaroiu to replace Bento as head coach

Saudi Arabia down Korea to move into Asia U17 final

North Korean commando involved in plot to kill South Korean president dies at 82

Debenhams' 'powerful' £60 night cream slashed to £9 in better than Boots £10 Tuesday sale

Surprise Bento dismissal raises questions about rest of UAE World Cup qualifying campaign

Son blames bad pitches as South Korea slip up in World Cup qualifying

Iran qualify for 2026 World Cup

Paulo Bento fired as head coach of the UAE national football team