United Arab Emirates vs Australia Predictions

• UAE have lost four of their last seven
• Australia are on a run of just three defeats in 19
• In six meetings between the two sides, UAE have won only once

UAE looking to make history

It is 32 years since the UAE last qualified for a World Cup, when they were knocked out of Italy ’90 at the group stage, but they are two wins away from reaching Qatar 2022.

The form book may well go out of the window for this one, given the game is being played on neutral territory, but Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side have lost four of their last seven matches.

Each of those defeats came away from home, including a 5-0 drubbing in Qatar, while they warmed up for this crucial game with a 1-1 draw against Gambia, a country ranked 55 places below them by FIFA.

Australia hoping to avoid an upset

Australia have previous experience of coming through the play-offs to reach a World Cup, having required this very same route to qualify for the 2018 edition in Russia.

The Socceroos, who have not missed a tournament since Japan and Korea in 2002, are without a win in four on the road, but have equally picked up 11 victories in their last 19 outings.

They are ranked 42nd in the world rankings, 26 players higher than UAE, whom they have lost to just once in six meetings, winning each of their previous two meetings in World Cup qualifying.

I predict that Australia will win this game and book their place in the final play-off against Peru, but UAE do not tend to concede too many goals, so 1-0 is my correct score prediction.