Asian Qualifiers - Group A: Uzbekistan 1-0 United Arab Emirates

Shukurov converted from the spot in the 76th minute with the visitors already shorthanded following Abdulla Hamad’s sending off 11 minutes earlier for a dangerous challenge on Sherzod Nasrullaev.

The win keeps Uzbekistan in pole position in the standings with 10 points from their opening four games as they continue their quest for a first-ever berth at the FIFA World Cup while the UAE, who last qualified for in 1990, remain on four points.

Islamic Republic of Iran, meanwhile, were phenomenal as they defeated Qatar 4-1, ensuring that they kept pace with Uzbekistan, who beat the United Arab Emirates 1-0 with both teams leading Group A with 10 points. .

In Group B, Korea Republic opened a three-point lead after defeating Iraq 3-2.

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The win saw the Central Asian side climbing off the foot of the table with three points while DPR Korea dropped into last spot.

The East Asian side will hope the win revives their campaign while it was Indonesia's first defeat after having earned their impressive draws in their earlier matches.

The win took Korea Republic to 10 points with Iraq three behind as the Taegeuk Warriors moved a step closer to sealing a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Shogo Taniguchi’s own goal in the 58th minute had given the Australians an unlikely lead and it took an error at the other end from Cameron Burgess 14 minutes from time to secure a point for Hajime Moriyasu’s side.

The draw moves the Japanese onto 10 points from four games and breaks their remarkable run of consecutive wins in qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, with Taniguchi’s goal the first Moriyasu’s side have conceded since the start of the preliminaries.

Australia move onto five points from four games, with four of those claimed since Popovic replaced Graham Arnold as head coach late last month.

DPR Korea, Japan and Korea Republic are the three Asian representatives seeking to take the coveted trophy back to Asia for the fifth time in eight editions.