Have the UAE missed a golden chance of World Cup return?

DUBAI: A dream delayed or never destined to materialize?

Such thoughts are flooding through disconsolate UAE minds after Tuesday night’s 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat at Qatar’s charged Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

The foremost concern is how to psychologically manage a further series of exacting playoffs — beginning with next month’s doubleheader with Iraq. And, if they advance, concluding with March’s intercontinental dates.

This week, a return to the globe’s biggest sporting stage for the first time since 1990 was just one game away. That prospect of an immediate salve for an expectant nation is gone forever.

It was lost amid a chaotic, double-digit second-half injury time against 10 men and preceding pain of conceding twice via set-piece headers.

Wider debates should also be undertaken in due course about how the Whites approached the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Playoffs Group Stage.

They stuttered into life to eventually prevail 2-1 against unfancied Oman, after initially falling behind to Al-Ain center-back Kouame Autonne’s own goal through an inadvertent deflection.

Possession was controlled without generating chances against Qatar in a match from which only defeat needed to be avoided, before Akram Afif’s exceptional pair of free-kick deliveries sparked hopes of traveling to the US, Canada and Mexico.

Appropriate solutions could yet lead to boundless — and deferred — joy next spring. None more so about how impactful “super sub” Sultan Adil can play a larger role after Tuesday’s sublime half volley halved the disadvantage.

“This is a disappointing result,” said frustrated UAE head coach Cosmin Olaroiu, who had been appointed to great fanfare amid Sharjah’s triumphant 2024/25 AFC Champions League Two