Japan’s Moriyasu pleased with “difficult” win

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Japan’s Moriyasu pleased with “difficult” win

Tokyo: Head coach Hajime Moriyasu defended Japan's performance, saying his players showed "persistence till the very end despite difficult circumstances" in their 1-0 win over DPR Korea in Group B of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

Ao Tanaka’s second minute goal meant Japan made it three wins out of three to move five points clear at the top, with Myanmar and Syria playing to a 1-1 draw in the other tie.
 
Japan are well on course for a place in the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers which will also seal AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualification and that was all that Moriyasu was concerned about. 

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3016719.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3016721.html

Round 2 - MD3: Results & Reports

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Round 2 - MD3: Results & Reports

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Three of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ concluded on Thursday with another round of exciting action across the continent.

Reigning AFC Asian Cup champions Qatar, Japan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Australia remained firmly in control of their respective groups with victories while Korea Republic were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Thailand. 
 
The nine group winners and the respective runners-up will advance to the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying, and at the same time seal their places at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
 
The other 18 teams from Round 2 will proceed directly to the third and final round of AFC Asian Cup qualifying. Stay updated on all the reaction from Thursday's matches with the-AFC.com with the teams to play again on Tuesday. 

Group B: Japan 1-0 DPR Korea

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group B: Japan 1-0 DPR Korea

Tokyo: Ao Tanaka’s second minute goal kept Hajime Moriyasu’s side perfect 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 as Japan picked up a 1-0 win over DPR Korea in Tokyo.

Tanaka, a surprise exclusion from the squad that travelled to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, slotted in after 81 seconds at National Stadium to secure a win that moves the Samurai Blue onto nine points from their first three games in the current phase of the preliminaries.

The nations are due to meet again in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Stadium on Tuesday with DPR Korea still on three points at the halfway stage having defeated Myanmar earlier in the campaign.

Group B: Myanmar 1-1 Syria

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group B: Myanmar 1-1 Syria

Yangon: Myanmar collected their first point in the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ as they held visitors Syria to a 1-1 draw in Group B on Thursday. 

Myanmar centre-back Soe Moe Kyaw found the breakthrough from a corner in the 35th minute at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, but substitute Alaa Al Dali denied the hosts all three points with an equaliser in the 71st minute. 

Group A: Qatar 3-0 Kuwait

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Group A: Qatar 3-0 Kuwait

Doha: Qatar turned on the power in the second half to defeat Kuwait 3-0 on Thursday to remain perfect in Group A of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ MVP and Top Scorer Akram Afif netted twice and the Maroons could well seal their place in the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 with a second win over Kuwait in the reverse  fixture on Tuesday. 

Group C: Korea Republic 1-1 Thailand

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group C: Korea Republic 1-1 Thailand

Seoul: Suphanat Mueanta’s second-half equaliser helped Thailand claim a memorable 1-1 draw against Korea Republic 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.

Son Heung-min put the hosts in front four minutes before the interval at Seoul World Cup Stadium but substitute Suphanat levelled proceedings shortly after the hour with the goal that ultimately secured a famous result for the Southeast Asians.

Group I: Australia 2-0 Lebanon

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group I: Australia 2-0 Lebanon

Sydney: Australia made it three wins out of three matches in their Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ campaign as they defeated Lebanon 2-0 in Group I on Thursday.

Keanu Baccus and Kye Rowles scored their first international goals for the home side early in each half as the Socceroos posted a comfortable victory at a packed Western Sydney Stadium.

Group G: Saudi Arabia 1-0 Tajikistan

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Group G: Saudi Arabia 1-0 Tajikistan

Riyadh: Salem Al Dawsari’s first-half strike was enough to hand Saudi Arabia a 1-0 win over Tajikistan in Group G of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at Al Awwal Park on Thursday.

The two sides lock horns again in Dushanbe next week, with the Saudis maintaining a perfect record at the top of the group, while the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 quarter-finalists are second with four points.

Group F: Iraq 1-0 Philippines

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Group F: Iraq 1-0 Philippines

Basra: Iraq made it three wins out of three after edging the Philippines 1-0 in Group F of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

A late Mohanad Ali strike meant Iraq opened a five-point lead over Indonesia, who defeated Vietnam 1-0 in the group’s other tie. 

Group H: United Arab Emirates 2-1 Yemen

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Group H: United Arab Emirates 2-1 Yemen

Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates continued their perfect start to the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group H with a 2-1 win over Yemen at Al Nahyan Stadium on Thursday.

The win means UAE retain the top spot in the group ahead of a trip to Saudi Arabia’s Al Khobar where they will face Yemen again in the reverse fixture.

Group E: IR Iran 5-0 Turkmenistan

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Group E: IR Iran 5-0 Turkmenistan

Tehran: Defender Hossein Kanani scored twice as the Islamic Republic of Iran cruised to a 5-0 win over Turkmenistan in Tehran on Thursday to stay on top of Group E of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

Sardar Azmoun, Mohammad Mohebi and Omid Noorafkan were also on target at the Azadi Stadium for Team Melli, who joined Uzbekistan on seven points from three games with Amir Ghalenoi’s side leading the standings on goal-difference at the halfway point.
 
The Iranians will next travel to Ashgabat to face Turkmenistan again on Tuesday when victory would be enough to guarantee their progress to the next phase of the preliminaries.