As the UAE national football team readies itself for a pivotal set of World Cup qualifiers in Doha, a wave of bold initiatives has been rolled out to ignite fan support. The latest of these comes from UAE telecom giant e&, providing nationals with 2GB of free roaming data to stay connected while cheering on the team during their crucial matches against Oman on October 11 and Qatar on October 14.Earlier this week, the UAE Football Association also launched a major fan engagement campaign, deploying five private jets to transport supporters directly to Doha. These efforts reflect the country’s collective drive to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, aiming for a return to the global stage for the first time since 1990.UAE telecom operator e& has announced an offering of 2GB of free roaming data for nationals travelling to Doha to support the UAE football team during their upcoming matches against Oman on October 11 and Qatar on October 14, part of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Free data and flights rally UAE fans for World Cup quest
Football fever has captured the nation, with billboards proudly displaying the slogan “the dream of a nation” as fans rally behind the UAE team, affectionately known as ‘the Whites,’ hoping to achieve a historic milestone by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since their debut appearance in Italia 1990, when they exited at the group stage.After a 35-year wait, the UAE is now just two wins away from securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico — reigniting hopes for a breakthrough in the nation’s sporting history.To support the team, multiple initiatives have been launched to assist fans traveling to Qatar. Notably, Ajman’s Sheikh Rashid bin Hamid Al Nuaimi has arranged a private plane to fly UAE supporters to Doha. Additionally, the UAE Football Association (UAEFA) announced the provision of five private planes dedicated to transporting Emirati fans to the crucial matches. Registration for these special flights is open online through the UAEFA’s official channels, with eligibility contingent upon presenting the Emirates ID and a limit of one ticket per person.These efforts underline the nation’s collective enthusiasm and unified commitment to backing the UAE team in their quest for World Cup qualification, a campaign closely watched with anticipation nationwide.
The stakes: UAE’s World Cup quest continues
After finishing third in Group A of the third round of the AFC qualifiers, behind Iran and Uzbekistan, the UAE national team, known as Al Abyad or The Whites, narrowly missed out on a direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the dream of qualification remains alive. Under the guidance of veteran coach Cosmin Olăroiu, the team now moves into the Asian playoff annex, where they face Oman and Qatar in a competitive three-team group. Only the winners of each group in this playoff stage will move forward to the final tournament, joining already-qualified Asian teams: Australia, Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Jordan. The expanded 48-nation FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.UAE’s key fixtures in this critical stage are scheduled as follows:
- October 11: UAE vs. Oman at Hamad Bin Jassim Stadium, Al Sadd Club, Doha
- October 14, 2025: UAE vs. Qatar at the same venue.
