October 9 – It is only the third match day of ten, but already the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are reaching a crucial, must-win stage for some of the AFC’s established international nations.
2022 World Cup hosts and Asian Cup champions this February, Qatar opened their 2026 qualifying campaign as a favourite for qualification from Group A, only to deliver one point from a possible six.
The group is topped by Uzbekistan and Iran who both have two wins from two matches. The UAE are third in the six-team group with three points. Only the top two teams qualify.
Qatar play Thursday night at home against bottom side Kyrgyz Republic before a tough trip away to Iran. If they fail to pick up points they could find themselves 11 points ahead of the group leaders with six games to play.
Table toppers Uzbekistan, who have never qualified for a World Cup finals, are in the position of being able to take a giant step towards 2026 if they win both their matches. They play Iran – level on points with them – at home on Thursday before travelling to third placed UAE.
In Group C Australia, who made it to the round of 16 in 2022, are in a similar position to Qatar with just one point from six. They open with bottom team China before travelling to group leaders Japan.
Graham Arnold who exited the Aussie manager’s job after the first round of matches, has been replaced by Tony Popovic who will be expecting a fast start with a somewhat fractured China perhaps being the perfect opposition to build a qualifying run on.
The big tie of the international window for this group is the clash between second-placed Saudi Arabia and Japan in Saudi. The Saudi football ambition is well documented, as was their surprise win against eventual world champions Argentina in the 2022 finals. They are looking for a third consecutive World Cup finals appearance as they build towards hosting in 2034.
If Japan win both their games they will open a minimum seven point lead at the top of the group with six games left.
The tightest of the three groups is Group B where Jordan, South Korea and Iraq are joint leaders with four points each.
Jordan have continued their form from the Asian Cup earlier this year where they were surprise finalists, losing to three Qatar penalties in the final.
They host serial World Cup qualifiers South Korea (qualified for every World Cup since 1986) who are adapting to life under new coach Hong Myung-bo after Jurgen Klinsman left following the Asian Cup where they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Jordan.
The Koreans host Iraq in their second match next Tuesday.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735131338labto1735131338ofdlr1735131338owedi1735131338sni@n1735131338osloh1735131338cin.l1735131338uap1735131338
