Just one day after the late victory in the World Cup qualification via North Korea, Portuguese Paulo Bento was released in the United Arab Emirates as a national football coach. The Uaefa Association announced this on Wednesday. Bento, a national coach in his home country from 2010 to 2014, had taken over the post in the summer of 2023.
The Emirates in Asia in qualification group A with 13 points are only third behind Iran (20/qualified) and Uzbekistan (17), but not yet out of the race. Second place would be enough for the direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup, it goes against the direct competitor Uzbekistan (June 5) and the penultimate Kyrgyzstan (June 10). In the game against North Korea, Sultan Adil had only taken care of the three (90th+8).
According to the association, a successor should be named “shortly”. Bento (55), who had led Portugal to the semi -finals at the 2012 EM 2012, looked after before the commitment in the desert state of South Korea.