OFFICIAL: Vietnam to Face Coach Who Led Team to World Cup Final at Asian Cup

The UAE national team has officially appointed Zlatko Dalic as head coach, succeeding Cosmin Olaroiu. The Croatian tactician will guide the UAE at the 2027 Asian Cup, sharing a group with Vietnam, South Korea, and Yemen.

Just over a month after parting ways with the Croatian national team, Zlatko Dalic quickly returned to coaching. The 59-year-old strategist accepted the challenge of leading the UAE, embarking on a completely new journey after nine years with Croatian football.

The United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAEFA) confirmed: “Welcome, Zlatko Dalic. The UAE Football Association is delighted to announce the appointment of the Croatian strategist as the new head coach of the UAE national team.”

Dalic left Croatia after a 1-2 defeat to Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Previously, he led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and secured third place at the 2022 World Cup. Over nine years, Dalic managed 111 matches for Croatia, achieving 62 wins, 20 draws, and 29 losses.

The 59-year-old manager also helped Croatia reach the 2022/23 Nations League final and guided the team through two European Championships. This marks Dalic's return to the UAE after nine years, having previously led Al Ain to the UAE domestic league title in 2015.

Vietnam’s Opponent Has a Coach Who Reached the World Cup Final

The UAE's appointment of Dalic has further increased the spotlight on Group E of the 2027 Asian Cup. According to the draw results, Vietnam is placed in the same group as South Korea, the UAE, and Yemen.

This group is considered highly challenging for Coach Kim Sang-sik and his squad, as South Korea and the UAE both possess formidable lineups. Moreover, the UAE now features Dalic, a coach with extensive World Cup experience.

Nevertheless, Vietnam has fond memories of facing the UAE. At the 2007 Asian Cup, Vietnam defeated the UAE 2-0 at My Dinh Stadium thanks to goals from Huỳnh Quang Thanh and Lê Công Vinh, marking their first-ever entry into the Asian Cup quarterfinals.

In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Vietnam continued their winning streak against the UAE with a 1-0 home victory, courtesy of a stunning strike from Nguyễn Tiến Linh. In the return leg in the UAE, Coach Park Hang-seo's team lost 2-3 but still advanced to the final round of qualification.

According to the schedule, the 2027 Asian Cup will take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027, in Saudi Arabia. The UAE will play their first match under Dalic in January 2027, facing Yemen in the tournament. This will also be the official debut of the Croatian manager in his journey to conquer the Asian Cup with the UAE.