An integral cog for the Emiratis, Yousuf has played all three matches in full in Group B.

“All the Emirati people are proud of us. They have high hopes for us, and we have not disappointed them by reaching the quarter-final and also qualifying to the World Cup in Qatar,” said Yousuf, who played a key role against Vietnam in the final group match.

His composure in defence resulted in a 74 percent passing accuracy. Crucially, the Al Wasl player won three duels and made three clearances throughout the 90-minutes to ensure Vietnam did not add to their early lead.

As it played out, Hazaa Faisal Madhi’s late goal earned UAE a 1-1 draw against Vietnam which secured their place in the last-eight for a showdown against Uzbekistan.

Yousef did not start out as a fan of the beautiful game, preferring to dabble in basketball instead. But his father’s encouragement soon channeled an innate passion for the game.

“I love football so much,” he said.

Despite achieving their goal of reaching the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025, Yousuf is determined to make Saudi 2025 a memorable showcase.

“We must begin to prepare with all our strength and focus on our upcoming match against Uzbekistan in the quarter-final. 

“My teammates have made great effort in these past matches, whether as starters or substitutes. They have done so well during the pressure moments to ensure qualification.

“Now we want to keep playing well and continue to bring joy to our fans.”

UAE will face Uzbekistan in Sunday’s quarter-final at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium.