Since the UAE national team's historic participation in the World Cup finals in Italy in 1990, the sporting public has continued to await the return of "Al Abyad" to the world's greatest football stage. More than 36 years have passed since that achievement, which remains a shining milestone in the history of Emirati sport, while the dream of qualification has continued to be deferred despite the enormous support that football has received at all levels.
The country has provided every element of success, from world-class sports facilities and specialist academies to advanced preparation programmes, alongside the recruitment of the finest technical and administrative expertise. Yet Emirati football has been unable to translate this massive investment into a sustained presence at the World Cup — a situation that demands a comprehensive technical and administrative review of the football system, free from pleasantries or the trading of blame.
At a time when the national team is absent from the 2026 World Cup, the UAE is making a strong appearance on the refereeing side, with international referee Omar Al Ali selected among the elite officials for the tournament, continuing an honourable Emirati tradition on the global stage.
Emirati refereeing has established a notable presence through prominent figures, led by the legendary Ali Bujsaim, who officiated at three consecutive World Cups in 1994, 1998, and 2002, alongside Mohamed Abdullah Hassan, who participated in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Assistant referees Issa Darwish, Saleh Al Marzouqi, Mohamed Al Hamadi, Mohamed Ahmed Yousuf, and Hassan Al Mehri have also distinguished themselves, while Mohamed Obaid Khadem has been selected among the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials for the 2026 World Cup.
This success in refereeing confirms that the UAE possesses the competencies capable of competing at the global level, but it simultaneously raises a legitimate question: why has Emirati refereeing succeeded in reaching the World Cup on multiple occasions, while the national team has been absent from the tournament throughout all these years?
The answer requires an honest pause and a clear vision for the future, because the UAE's natural place is not limited to the referee's whistle — it extends to having the national team among the great teams of the world.