The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) has officially announced the appointment of Zlatko Dalic as the new head coach of the UAE national team. The announcement was made on Wednesday via the social media platform X, marking a significant shift in the leadership of the Emirates’ football program.
“Welcome, Zlatko Dalic. The UAE Football Association is pleased to announce the appointment of the Croatian as the new Head Coach of the UAE National Team,” the UAEFA stated in their official post. Dalic arrives in the region with an extensive resume, having recently stepped down from his long-term role as the manager of the Croatian national team following their round of 32 exit at the World Cup, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Portugal.
Dalic is no stranger to the UAE football landscape. He previously managed Al Ain in the UAE Pro League, where he successfully guided the club to a league title. His return to the country comes at a pivotal moment for the national side, which has struggled to secure a spot in recent major tournaments. His primary mandate is to lead the UAE to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The appointment follows a period of instability for the UAE national team, which narrowly missed qualification for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. During the most recent cycle, the UAE faced a grueling qualification path. After finishing third in their group behind Iran and Uzbekistan, they advanced to the fourth round. In October 2025, they secured a 2-1 victory over Oman but suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Qatar, which handed the direct qualification spot to their neighbors and forced the UAE into the final Asian playoff round.
The dream of reaching the 2026 tournament ultimately ended in the final hurdle against Iraq. The UAE managed a 1-1 draw in the first leg but fell 2-1 in the away match, extinguishing their hopes of participating in the global event. This failure led to the departure of Cosmin Olaroiu, who had been brought in to salvage the campaign after the dismissal of Paulo Bento.
Paulo Bento, who previously led Portugal to the Euro 2012 semi-finals and South Korea to the 2022 World Cup round of 16, oversaw 26 matches for the UAE, recording 14 wins, six draws, and six losses. Despite his record, the UAEFA parted ways with him midway through the cycle, aiming for a different direction that ultimately did not yield the desired qualification.
Dalic’s tenure with Croatia was highly decorated, spanning nine years. He famously guided the team to the 2018 World Cup final, secured a third-place finish in the 2022 tournament, and reached the 2023 Nations League final. The UAEFA is banking on this pedigree to elevate the national team’s performance on the international stage.
Looking ahead, Dalic’s immediate focus will be the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which is set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia. The UAE has been drawn into Group E, where they are scheduled to face South Korea, Vietnam, and Yemen. This tournament will serve as a critical testing ground for Dalic as he begins the long-term project of building a squad capable of navigating the challenging qualification process for the 2030 World Cup.
Dalic’s main responsibility will be to guide UAE to the 2030 World Cup.
