UAE women's team removes naturalized players before qualifying round in Vietnam

Naturalised players of British and American origin have been removed from the UAE women's national team's shortlist ahead of the 2026 Asian Women's Championship qualifiers.

UAE women's team will play the Asian Cup women's qualifiers with 100% domestic players - Photo: UAEFA

On the evening of June 26, the UAE Football Federation announced the shortlist of the country's women's national team down to 21 players. The UAE will compete in Group E of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers without any naturalized players.

Head coach Vera Pauw has decided to remove Georgia Gibson, Elizabeth Forshaw and Mia Lindborg from the squad. This is a surprise because these players of British and American origin are considered to have high professional level, and are playing outstandingly in the UAE women's national championship. Gibson and Forshaw even accompanied the UAE women's team on their trip to Vietnam.

It is unclear why the UAE women's team eliminated all naturalized players. Previously, the newly naturalized players of the UAE participated in domestic training a week ago, participating in 2 friendly matches with the Malaysian women's team (losing 0-2 and 1-3).

Coach Pauw's trials have not been favorable. Therefore, she will have to use 100% domestic players before the Asian Women's Championship qualifiers.

The 21-man squad for the UAE women's team includes three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and four forwards. Most of them play domestically, and many of them are very young. However, the UAE is determined to cause a surprise to qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time in its history.

List of 21 players of the UAE women's team - Photo: UAEFA

Among the visiting teams in Group E, the UAE women’s team arrived in Vietnam the earliest (on June 24). Then, on June 27, the Maldives and Guam teams arrived in Vietnam.

On June 26, the Vietnamese women's team also finalized the shortlist by eliminating 3 players, including overseas Vietnamese Nguyen Hoang Nam Mi.

The Vietnamese women's team will face the Maldives, the UAE and Guam on June 29, July 2 and July 5 respectively. Only the group winners will qualify for the finals of the Asian Cup next year.

NGOC LE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tuyen-nu-uae-gach-ten-cau-thu-nhap-tich-truoc-vong-loai-o-viet-nam-20250627070302014.htm