Group C: China PR 1-1 Thailand

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group C: China PR 1-1 Thailand

Shenyang: A 1-1 stalemate between China PR and Thailand in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ tie on Thursday will see the pair enforced to wait until Tuesday’s Matchday Six ties to know their Group C destiny.

China will remain in the driving seat going into the final round of fixtures with a three-point advantage and Thailand needing to overcome an inferior goal difference. However, China will have the more testing tie with a visit to group winners Korea Republic, while Thailand host bottom side Singapore.

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Round 2 - MD5: Results & Reports

Fri, 07 Jun, 2024

Round 2 - MD5: Results & Reports

Kuala Lumpur: Palestine were the history makers as Matchday Five of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ concluded on Thursday.

A goalless draw with Lebanon saw Palestine booking their spot in the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time as well as confirming a fourth consecutive appearance at the AFC Asian Cup Finals.

Also through to the next stage were Korea Republic as a 7-0 defeat of Singapore meant they are well on course for an 11th consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals.

The-AFC.com recaps how Matchday Five unfolded, with 13 of the 18 FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers third round spots filled.

Group B: Myanmar 0-5 Japan

Fri, 07 Jun, 2024

Group B: Myanmar 0-5 Japan

Yangon: Japan cruised to a 5-0 victory over Myanmar in Yangon on Thursday as Hajime Moriyasu’s side confirmed themselves as Group B winners in the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

Keito Nakamura and Ritsu Doan struck in the 17th and 34th minutes respectively to give Japan a two-goal lead at the interval before a double from Koki Ogawa in the final 15 minutes and Nakamura’s injury time strike confirmed a win that moves Japan onto 15 points.

Group C: Singapore 0-7 Korea Republic

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group C: Singapore 0-7 Korea Republic

Singapore: Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in scored a brace each as Korea Republic cruised 7-0 past Singapore in Group C of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

The win assured the East Asian side their berth in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and confirmed their ticket to the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Finals.

Group D: Chinese Taipei 0-3 Oman

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group D: Chinese Taipei 0-3 Oman

Taipei: A composed Oman blanked Chinese Taipei 3-0 in Group D of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at the Taipei Municipal Stadium on Thursday.

A brace from Rahman Al Mushaifri and a strike from Jameel Al Yahmadi took Oman to 12 points from five matches, brightening their chances of advancing to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the second successive edition.

Group E: Hong Kong, China 2-4 IR Iran

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group E: Hong Kong, China 2-4 IR Iran

Hong Kong: Islamic Republic of Iran survived a stiff test from Hong Kong, China to walk away with a 4-2 win in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group E tie on Thursday.

Mehdi Taremi led by example with a hat-trick as IR Iran stayed unbeaten, moving to 13 points with a match against Uzbekistan to come on Tuesday that will decide the group winners.

Group F: Vietnam 3-2 Philippines

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group F: Vietnam 3-2 Philippines

Hanoi: Vietnam came back from a goal down to edge the Philippines 3-2 in Group F of their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ match on Thursday.

Pham Tuan Hai scored the winner in second half added time as Vietnam kept their hopes alive, moving within one point of second-placed Indonesia in the standings.

Group F: Indonesia 0-2 Iraq

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group F: Indonesia 0-2 Iraq

Jakarta: Iraq secured top spot in Group F following their 2-0 win over 10-man Indonesia in the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ tie on Thursday.

Having already secured their place as one of the top two sides from Group F on Matchday Four, Iraq were made to work hard in a first half where Indonesia controlled the majority of possession albeit without creating clear-cut chances.

However, the arrival of Ali Jasim from the bench at half-time proved crucial as the young Iraq star forced the penalty from which Aymen Hussein opened the scoring, before netting the crucial second himself in the dying minutes of the tie to seal top spot in the group with a game to spare.

Indonesia, who also saw Jordi Amat dismissed in the second half, will need to await the conclusion of the later tie between Vietnam and Philippines to know whether their own progression to the next round of preliminaries for the FIFA World Cup 2026 must wait until Matchday Six.

Group I: Bangladesh 0-2 Australia

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group I: Bangladesh 0-2 Australia

Dhaka: Australia kept their perfect record alive in Group I of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ with a 2-0 win over Bangladesh on Thursday.

At the Bashundhara Kings Arena, Graham Arnold’s side made it five wins from five matches, while another clean sheet, this time from Aston Villa’s Joe Gauci, making just his third appearance for the Socceroos, also kept alive their record of not having conceded so far this campaign.