In a surprising turn of events, the United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAEFA) has terminated the contract of head coach Paulo Bento, despite the national team's recent 2-1 triumph over North Korea in the World Cup qualifiers. The decision, announced on March 26, 2025, has left fans and analysts questioning the rationale behind dismissing a coach following a crucial victory.
Paulo Bento, who took the helm of the UAE national team in July 2023, brought with him a wealth of experience, having previously guided Portugal to the Euro 2012 semi-finals and led South Korea to the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup. Under his leadership, the UAE team secured 14 wins, 6 draws, and 6 losses. The recent win against North Korea was particularly significant, as Sultan Adil's stoppage-time goal narrowed the gap to Uzbekistan in Group A to four points, keeping the UAE's hopes for automatic qualification alive.
Despite this positive outcome, the UAEFA opted to part ways with Bento and his coaching staff. The association has not provided specific reasons for the dismissal, leading to widespread speculation. Some insiders suggest that internal disagreements over team strategy and performance expectations may have contributed to the decision. Others point to the team's inconsistent performance throughout the qualifiers as a possible factor.
The timing of Bento's dismissal is particularly critical, given the upcoming qualifiers against Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. These matches are pivotal for the UAE's chances of securing an automatic spot in the World Cup or, at the very least, a place in the fourth round of qualifiers. The UAEFA is now under pressure to appoint a successor who can quickly adapt and steer the team towards success in these crucial fixtures.
Fans have expressed mixed reactions to the news. While some support the association's decision, hoping for a fresh approach to invigorate the team's performance, others are concerned about the potential disruption this change may cause during a critical juncture in the qualification campaign. As the search for a new head coach begins, the UAE football community remains hopeful that this change will ultimately benefit the national team's aspirations on the world stage.