On this day in 1990: UAE debut at a football World Cup

The UAE team to face West Germany at Italia 90. From left: Faraj, Abdulrahman, I.M. Abdulrahman, Y.M. Mohammad, K.G. Mubarak, Abdullah, N.K. Mubarak, Abbas, K.I. Mubarak, Jumaa, and Adnan Al Talyani) pose for the official group picture at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan. The UAE lost to the eventual world champions 5-1. AFP

UAE fans mingle with supporters from Colombia during their opening match at the 1990 World Cup in Bologna, Italy, on June 9, 1990. Colombia won the match 2-0. Getty Images

A picture taken on June 19, 1990 shows Emirati forward Adnan Al Talyani controls the ball during the World Cup Group D match against Yugoslavia at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy. Yugoslavia won 4-1. AFP

The UAE's Adnan Al Talyani challenges West Germany's Guido Buchwald. AFP Photo

UAE defenders surround West Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann. Photo courtesy Al Ittihad

The UAE midfielder Khalid Mubarak, left, fights for the ball with the Colombian defender Andres Escobar during the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

The UAE's Khaleel Mubarak on the attack against Yugoslavia in the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

A handout still of "Lights of Rome", the documentary following the true underdog story of how the UAE national football team pulled off a miracle by qualifying for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The Photo shows former UAE players Abdulrahman Al Haddad and Ali Thani at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro where they were reunited with their former Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. Courtesy Image Nation

The UAE have not qualified for the World Cup since 1990.

Abdulrahman Mohammed, left, challenges Colombia's Carlos Valderrama in their opening Group D game at the 1990 World Cup. The UAE lost 2-0 and were also defeated by Yugoslavia and West Germany. AFP

Today marks 30 years since the UAE national team debuted at a World Cup, in what was their first, and as of yet only, appearance at a global finals.

Drawn in Group D alongside eventual champions West Germany, Yugoslavia and Colombia, the UAE kicked off their campaign against the South Americans at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna.

Pitted against a star-studded side comprising Rene Higuita, Carlos Valderrama and Freddie Rincon, the UAE held out for the entire first half before eventually being defeated 2-0. It was an opening loss on football’s grandest stage, but a team made up solely of UAE-based players had performed admirably.

The UAE would go on to lose against the Germans and Yugoslavia, but midfielder Khalid Ismail etched his name in the history books by scoring the country’s first goal at a World Cup, in the 5-1 defeat to Franz Beckenbauer’s champions-in-waiting. Sharjah's Ali Thani also notched, in the 4-1 reverse against Yugoslavia.