Group G: Pakistan 0-3 Saudi Arabia

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group G: Pakistan 0-3 Saudi Arabia

Islamabad: Saudi Arabia came away from Pakistan’s Jinnah Stadium with a 3-0 victory in Group G of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

Having extended their unbeaten run to five matches, Saudi Arabia book their place in the next round of the qualifiers ahead of their final group game against Jordan at home on Tuesday.

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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 A: India 0-0 Kuwait

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group A: India 0-0 Kuwait

Kolkata: India and Kuwait played to a goalless draw in their Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 Group A match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday.

The result took India to five points from five matches, with Kuwait one adrift. India next play Qatar in Doha on Tuesday, while Kuwait host Afghanistan.

Group B: DPR Korea 1-0 Syria

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group B: DPR Korea 1-0 Syria

Vientiane: Jong Il Gwan’s last-gasp winner earned DPR Korea a vital 1-0 win over Syria in Group B of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

Jong struck in the two minutes into added time to leave DPR Korea trailing their defeated opponents by just a point heading into Matchday Six with Japan having already assured themselves of a first place finish.

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: 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.

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: Kyrgyz Republic 1-1 Malaysia

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group D: Kyrgyz Republic 1-1 Malaysia

Bishkek:  Kyrgyz Republic and Malaysia played to a 1-1 draw in their penultimate Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group D match on Thursday.

The result maintained Kyrgyz Republic’s place in the qualifying spots heading into their meeting with already qualified Oman on Tuesday while Malaysia will face Chinese Taipei, with the Southeast Asian side still with an outside chance of progression.

Group E: Uzbekistan 3-1 Turkmenistan

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group E: Uzbekistan 3-1 Turkmenistan

Tashkent: Uzbekistan maintained their pursuit of top spot in Group E of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ with a 3-1 win over Turkmenistan at Bunyodkor Stadium on Thursday.

Goals from Oston Urunov and Sherzod Nasrullayev earned Srecko Katanec’s side all three points after Husniddin Aliqulov’s opener had been cancelled out by Shansar Tirkisow and the win means Uzbekistan move onto 13 points and level with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The pair face off in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Tuesday with Uzbekistan needing to win to take top spot due to their inferior goal difference over a side against which they drew 2-2 when the nations faced off in Tashkent in November.

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.