United Arab Emirates vs Yemen Predictions
United Arab Emirates and Yemen meet at Alinma Bank Stadium (Jeddah) on Thursday in their Gulf Cup Group B opener.
The UAE have the stronger squad, and an excellent recent record against Yemen.
UAE to win/Over 2.5 goals is my best bet, while I also expect both teams to get on the scoresheet.
UAE to Claim Entertaining Gulf Cup Victory
- UAE have seen over 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 13 matches
- UAE have seen BTTS in 8 of their last 10 matches
- UAE won their last 6 matches against Yemen
- Yemen have seen over 2.5 goals in 3 of their last 4 matches
- UAE scored 1+ goals in 7 of their last 9 matches
United Arab Emirates Dominate Yemen in H2H Record
United Arab Emirates and Yemen have met on five occasions since 2009. The UAE won all five fixtures, including a pair of World Cup qualification victories in 2024.
UAE Begin Gulf Cup Campaign
The UAE head to Jeddah after securing a joint-third-placed finish at the Arab Cup in their last runout nine months ago.
Despite reaching the semi-finals, the Emirates won only one of six matches at the competition. Each of their first four matches finished with both teams on the scoresheet.
After a penalty shootout win against Algeria in the quarter-finals, the UAE’s hopes of lifting the title for the first time in their history were dashed by a 3-0 defeat against Morocco in the semi-finals.
Zlatko Dalic's side have now won only one of nine games played since October 2025.
Despite their indifferent form, a strong record against Yemen offers plenty of encouragement. The UAE claimed 2-1 and 3-0 wins in their most recent encounters in the World Cup qualifiers two years ago.
The Emirates come into the Gulf Cup ranked 68th in the world, 77 places above their opponents.
Two-time winners of this competition in 2007 and 2013, the UAE suffered a first-round exit on their last appearance two years ago.
Yemen Return to Action
Yemen travel to Jeddah in winning form after a 2-0 victory over Lebanon in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in June.
A second-half brace from Nasser Mohammedoh secured a well-deserved win for Al-Yaman as-Sa'eed.
Noureddine Ould Ali’s men missed out on last winter’s Arab Cup after a remarkable qualifying defeat against Comoros. After a 4-4 draw, Yemen fell to a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat.
Before that setback, Al-Yaman as-Sa'eed had enjoyed a six-game unbeaten run between December 2024 and November 2025. Yemen won four of those fixtures, including a 9-0 win against Brunei and a 7-1 thrashing of Bhutan.
Past performances at this competition have been less impressive. Yemen were knocked out at the group stage in each of ten successive tournaments between 2004 and 2025.
The West Asian underdogs lost 24 of 30 previous fixtures in this competition, with their only win coming at the 2025 event against Bahrain.
United Arab Emirates vs Yemen Team News
United Arab Emirates Squad
Goalkeepers: Khalid Eisa, Hamad Al-Meqbaali, Fahad Al-Dhanhani
Defenders: Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khaled Ibrahim, Marcus Meloni, Lucas Pimenta, Zayed Sultan, Ruben Canedo, Sasa Ivkovic, Ala Zhir, Erik
Midfielders: Harib Abdalla, Fabio Lima, Isam Faiz, Abdulla Hamad, Nicolas Gimenez, Luanzinho, Mamadou Coulibaly
Forwards: Ali Saleh, Sultan Adil, Bruno, Richard Akonnor, Guilherme Bala, Ousmane Camara, Yuri Cesar
Zlatko Dalic has a 26-man squad available for Thursday’s Gulf Cup clash.
Uncapped quartet Mamadou Coulibaly, Guilherme Bala, Ousmane Camara and Yuri Cesar have been included in the selection.
Experienced forward Caio Canedo has been left out.
Yemen Squad
Goalkeepers: Abdullah Al-Saadi, Osama Haidar, Mohammed Aman
Defenders: Amr Talal, Nader Sahal, Hamza Al-Rimi, Emad Al-Godaimah, Rami Al-Wasmani, Ali Al-Dugin, Radhawan Al-Hubaishi, Harwan Al-Zubaidi
Midfielders: Nasser Al-Gahwashi, Nawaf Abdullah, Mohammed Hashm Al-Najjar, Abdulwasea Al-Matari, Adel Abbas Qasem, Omar Al-Golan, Osamah Anbar, Anes Al-Maari
Forwards: Omar Al-Dahy, Abdulaziz Masnoum, Abdul Majeed Sabarah, Gassem Al-Sharafi
Yemen boss Ould Ali’ has a 26-man squad available this week.
Experienced captain Abdulwasea Al-Matari is expected to win his 63rd cap for Al-Yaman as-Sa'eed.
Forest Green Rovers forward D'Mani Mellor is one of five uncapped players hoping to make their Yemen debut.