UAE players call on fans to push side's World Cup play-off bid against Australia

The UAE players have urged the team’s supporters to help boost their bid to reach the World Cup, while promising to give everything on the pitch in next week’s play-off against Australia in Qatar.

The national team, currently training in Doha, stand two matches away from a second appearance for the country at a global finals, with the first assignment against Australia on Tuesday.

Victory at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium would then set up a decisive clash with Peru on June 13 at the same venue, where the winner will earn a spot at Qatar 2022.

The UAE will almost certainly enjoy the majority of support in Doha, with the Football Association providing 5,000 match tickets for fans. By Thursday, five days out from the Australia encounter, registration for the tickets was full.

Speaking from the UAE's base in Doha, midfielder Abdullah Ramadan said: "We players will fight on the field, and we promise to provide everything we can on the pitch in order to seize our chance to qualify for the final play-off against Peru.

“We know the coming match against Australia will not be easy, but we are waiting for the great support from our fans, because their presence is the most important motivating factor. It raises morale and increases the ambition and enthusiasm in the hearts of the players during the next match."

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