July 1 – Asia’s highest-ranked team Japan were paired with familiar foes Australia in Group B in today’s draw for the final round of World Cup qualifying. Iran and South Korea will meet in Group A.
Based on the FIFA ranking, it was inevitable that continental heavyweights would be drawn together with top seeds Japan and Iran in Pot 1 of the draw and Pot 2 comprising Australia and Korea. Even so, the quartet will still be favourites to progress to the global finals in Qatar. The respective group winners and runners-up will book an automatic ticket for the 2022 World Cup. The third-placed teams will battle it out for the right to play in an intercontinental playoff.
The Koreans and Iranians have met in every final round since 2010 but they will face a tougher challenge than usual in qualification. The United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria and debutants Lebanon will be their Group A opponents.
Bert Van Marwijk’s UAE team has looked in good shape and will believe it can cause an upset. Iraq similarly have the pedigree, but doubts over the future of coach Srečko Katanec and a badly run FA will dent the chances of the 2008 Asian Cup winners.
In Group B, both Japan and Australia should prevail, but the Socceroos will be wary of a tricky draw that sees them take on the continent’s most consistent team as well opponents Saudi Arabia, China, Oman and Vietnam. Australia and Japan have played each other in qualifying ever since the Australians joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
“I think this group shows you’re going to need a good amount of depth in your squad,” said Socceroos coach Graham Arnold. “What we learnt from the second phase, where we had to play seven out of eight games away from home and we won all eight games, it gives the players a lot of belief and confidence.”
In 2018, Australia took the long route to Russia, finishing behind both Japan and Saudi Arabia in qualifying. They saw off Syria and then Honduras to clinch a ticket for the finals.
The group also sees the Vietnamese debut at this level. They will seek to build on the success of their 2019 Asian Cup campaign and performances in previous rounds of qualifying.
The final round of qualifying will get under way in September.
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