The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) has officially announced the appointment of Zlatko Dalic as the new head coach of the UAE national football team. The news was shared via the organization’s social media platform X on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the leadership of the squad.
Dalic joins the UAE after recently stepping down from his long-standing role as the head coach of Croatia. His tenure with the Croatian national team concluded following their exit in the round of 32 at the most recent World Cup, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Portugal.
In an official statement posted on X, the UAEFA welcomed the incoming manager, stating: “Welcome, Zlatko Dalic. The UAE Football Association is pleased to announce the appointment of the Croatian as the new Head Coach of the UAE National Team.”
This appointment represents a return to familiar territory for Dalic, who previously managed Al Ain in the UAE Pro League, where he successfully guided the club to a league title. He takes over the national team following the departure of Cosmin Olaroiu, who left his post after the UAE failed to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Dalic brings an impressive resume to the Emirates, having spent nine years at the helm of the Croatian national team. During that period, he led his side to the 2018 World Cup final, secured a third-place finish in the 2022 tournament, and reached the 2023 Nations League final.
Looking ahead, Dalic faces a busy schedule as the UAE prepares for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. The team has been drawn into Group E, where they are set to face South Korea, Vietnam, and Yemen. However, his primary long-term objective is to guide the UAE to qualification for the 2030 World Cup.
The UAE’s recent history in World Cup qualification has been marked by narrow misses. The team failed to reach both the 2022 and 2026 tournaments despite coming close. During the 2026 cycle, the UAE finished third in their group behind Iran and Uzbekistan, moving into the fourth round of Asian qualifiers.
In October 2025, the UAE secured a 2-1 victory over Oman but subsequently suffered a 2-1 loss to Qatar. That result handed Qatar the direct qualification spot and forced the UAE into the fifth and final Asian playoff round. In that final hurdle, the UAE drew 1-1 in the first leg against Iraq before losing the away leg 2-1, effectively ending their hopes of reaching the 2026 tournament.
Dalic replaces Olaroiu, who had taken over from Paulo Bento midway through the qualification cycle. Bento, who previously led Portugal to the Euro 2012 semi-finals and South Korea to the 2022 World Cup last 16, recorded 14 wins, six draws, and six losses during his time with the Emirates from July 2023 until his dismissal.
UAE failed to qualify for the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups after coming agonizingly close.
