March 27, 2025: Paulo Bento has been dismissed as head coach of the United Arab Emirates football team, just hours after a 2-1 victory over North Korea kept their slim hopes of automatic World Cup qualification alive.
The last-minute goal in the 98th minute of the match kept the UAE four points behind second-place Uzbekistan in Group A with two games to go. The top two teams from each of the three Asian groups are guaranteed a spot in the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.
“The UAE Football Association has decided to dismiss head coach Paulo Bento, along with his coaching staff,” the association announced on social media.
The 55-year-old Portuguese coach previously led South Korea to the 2022 World Cup knockout stages and took Portugal to the European Championships semifinals in 2012. He was appointed in July 2023 to replace Rodolfo Arruabarrena.
If the UAE fails to secure second place in their group, they will face another round of qualification, with third and fourth-place teams in each group playing for the remaining World Cup spots.
The UAE's next qualifier will be against Uzbekistan at home on June 5.