

One of the key matches of the fifth round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers will take place on Thursday in Abu Dhabi, where the UAE hosts Kyrgyzstan. Here’s a preview of the clash along with a betting suggestion with solid odds.
Match Preview
Under the guidance of Paulo Bento, the UAE reached the Asian Cup round of 16 last winter but exited after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Tajikistan. In the second qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup, the "Whites" delivered a stellar performance, securing the top spot in their group, ahead of Bahrain, Yemen, and Nepal.
The third stage began with an impressive 3-1 away victory over Qatar, but the UAE stumbled at home against Iran, losing 0-1. October proved challenging, with a 1-1 home draw against North Korea and a 0-1 away loss to Uzbekistan, earning just a single point from those encounters.
The "White Falcons" of Kyrgyzstan rarely make significant strides in the Asian Cup, and the last tournament was no exception—they failed to advance past the group stage, falling to Oman, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. However, they showed resilience in the World Cup qualifiers, finishing second in their group with Oman, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
The third qualifying round has been difficult for Kyrgyzstan, suffering defeats against Iran (0-1), Uzbekistan (2-3), and Qatar (1-3), highlighting the high level of their opponents. Their only win so far came at home against North Korea in the fourth round, securing a narrow 1-0 victory. Kyrgyzstan currently stands fifth in the table, just one point behind the UAE and Qatar.
Probable Lineups
- UAE: Eisa; Idrees, Kawadio, Al Hammadi, Ibrahim, Nader, Al Ghassani, Al Zaabi, Hamad, Suhail, Canedo
- Kyrgyzstan: Tokotaev; Mishchenko, Kichin, Kozubaev, Brausman, Jyrgalbek Uulu, Shukurov, Zarypbekov, Abdurakhmanov, Kenyebaev, Koyo
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- The teams have met twice before, with the UAE winning both encounters (1-0 and 3-2 in extra time).
- In four of the UAE’s last five matches, the "Under 2.5 Goals" bet has hit.
- In three of Kyrgyzstan’s last five games, the "Under 2.5 Goals" bet has also landed.
Prediction
The UAE is the clear favorite here, but with a low odds of 1.42 for a home win, a large margin victory seems unlikely given their playing style. Our recommended bet is "Under 2.5 Goals" at odds of 1.75.