Bert van Marwijk names provisional UAE squad for upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers

National team, who began the final round in disappointing fashion, host Iran and Iraq at home next month

UAE's Ali Mabkhout battles with Abbas Assi of Lebanon during their World Cup 2022 qualifier at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai on Thursday, September 2, 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National.

UAE's Fabio de Lima battles with Abbas Assi of Lebanon during their World Cup 2022 qualifier at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Bandar Al Ahbabi of the UAE looks dejected after the draw against Lebanon. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Caio Canedo of the UAE battles with Robert Melki of Lebanon at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE took on Lebanon in their opening match of the final round of qualification for the 2022 World Cup. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE fans before the game at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE fans soak in the atmosphere before the game in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE fans prepare for the World Cup qualifier in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Lebanon manager Ivan Hasek at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE team line up before the game at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE players in a huddle before the match on Thursday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE manager Bert van Marwijk at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE manager Bert van Marwijk has chosen an expanded squad for his side’s 2022 World Cup qualifying double-header next month.

The national team host Iran and Iraq in Dubai during a five-day spell from October 7 as they look to get their final-round campaign back on track following a disappointing opening set of fixtures this month.

With only the top two teams guaranteed to progress from Group A, the UAE drew at home to Lebanon and then again away to Syria. As such, they sit third in the standings, two points off South Korea in second. Iran top the group with two wins from two.

On Monday, the UAE confirmed an initial, 31-man squad for next month’s matches, with Caio Canedo a notable absentee. The Brazil-born forward has been recovering from injury and has only recently returned to training with club side Al Ain.

Van Marwijk has included a number of fresh faces for this camp, comprising Shabab Al Ahli full-back Abdulaziz Haikal, Al Wahda counterpart Ahmed Rashid and midfielders Majed Rashid and Mohammed Abbas, of Sharjah and Al Ain respectively. Shabab Al Ahli defender Yousef Jaber returns after a minor injury forced him to withdraw from this month’s qualifiers.

Missing a couple of pivotal players for those games, the UAE went on to draw 0-0 with Lebanon at the Zabeel Stadium before letting slip a 1-0 lead to be held 1-1 by Syria in Amman.

Iran, meanwhile, emphasised their position as the highest-ranked team in Asia with a 1-0 victory at home to Syria and then a 3-0 win against Iraq in Qatar. Iraq opened their account with an excellent goalless draw against South Korea in Seoul.

Although the top two sides seal a direct spot at next year’s World Cup, the third-placed team in each of the two groups then meet one another to advance to an intercontinental play-off, where a final berth at the global finals is up for grabs. At present, Australia and Saudi Arabia lie first and second in Group B – both have gleaned six points from six – while Oman are third, level on points with Japan.