3-1 WIN SEALS QUARTER-FINAL SPOT
By our man in Doha
DOHA, QATAR – The United Arab Emirates punched their ticket to the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-finals last night, downing rivals Kuwait 3-1 in a thrilling Group C finale staged at the sensational, one-of-a-kind Stadium 974.
The result, coupled with Jordan’s victory over Egypt, saw the Emiratis sneak into the knockout stages, but all eyes were on the incredible backdrop of the match itself.
The Container Wonder
The iconic Stadium 974—named after the exact number of shipping containers used in its construction and Qatar’s international dialing code—provided a truly unique and vibrant atmosphere for the crunch match. This temporary, demountable marvel, an architectural triumph from the 2022 World Cup, proved it still has the magic touch for high-stakes football.
The colourful, modular design of the venue seemed to inject an extra burst of energy into the UAE side, who knew they needed a win to progress.
The home crowd—flocking to the capital’s most innovative stadium—were on their feet early as Yahya Al Ghassani bagged a quickfire brace.
He converted a penalty in the 16th minute before smashing home a second just two minutes later (18′), leaving Kuwait shell-shocked and the amazing container-stadium reverberating with noise.
Kuwait attempted a second-half fightback, briefly reigniting their hopes when Fahed Al Hajri pulled one back in the 59th minute.
However, the UAE quickly stamped out any chance of a comeback, with Nicolás Giménez netting the decisive third goal in the 66th minute, securing the 3-1 victory and a quarter-final berth.
The final whistle confirmed the UAE’s progression and marked the final Group C fixture played at the revolutionary, dismantled-and-rebuilt Stadium 974—a fitting end for a venue that keeps on giving.
