Westwood’s Afghanistan focused on making history; India’s Stimac looking ahead

Fri, 07 Jun, 2024

Westwood’s Afghanistan focused on making history; India’s Stimac looking ahead

Al Hasa: Ashley Westwood believes the point Afghanistan earned against Qatar in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group A match will prove valuable in the final reckoning.

The Afghanistan head coach is aiming to lead the team to historic firsts by reaching the Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 as well securing a place in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, with the Central Asian side needing to better India’s result in the final set of matches on Tuesday.

Arnold praises resilient Socceroos

Fri, 07 Jun, 2024

Arnold praises resilient Socceroos

Dhaka: Head coach Graham Arnold applauded his players after Australia overcame tough conditions to defeat Bangladesh 2-0 in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group I tie on Thursday.

Having already secured their spot in the next round ahead of the clash in Dhaka, the challenge was for Australia to maintain their winning streak and keep another clean sheet - tests which the Socceroos passed with flying colours under humid conditions.

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 H: Bahrain 0-0 Yemen

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group H: Bahrain 0-0 Yemen

Riffa: Bahrain and Yemen played out a goalless draw at the Bahrain National Stadium in Group H of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

The result means Bahrain book their spot in Saudi Arabia 2027 and the third round of World Cup qualifiers ahead of their Matchday Six trip to the UAE, while Yemen finish third in the group regardless of their result against bottom placed Nepal in Dammam next Tuesday.

Group G: Jordan 3-0 Tajikistan

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group G: Jordan 3-0 Tajikistan

Amman: Jordan turned on the power in the second half to defeat Tajikistan 3-0 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.

The win confirmed Jordan's place in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and booked their ticket to the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. 

The Group G top spot will be Jordan’s next target as they play Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, while Tajikistan meet Nepal.

Group A: Afghanistan 0-0 Qatar

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group A: Afghanistan 0-0 Qatar

Al-Hasa: A compact Afghanistan put up a stubborn performance to hold Qatar 0-0 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 Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Stadium in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

The result took Afghanistan to five points, level with India and one ahead of Kuwait with  Qatar having already earned qualification into Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Afghanistan play Kuwait on Tuesday with India facing Qatar in what promises to be an exciting finale to Group A.

Group H: Nepal 0-4 United Arab Emirates

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group H: Nepal 0-4 United Arab Emirates

Dammam: The UAE continued their perfect run in Group H of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ with an emphatic 4-0 win over Nepal at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium on Thursday.

Coach Paulo Bento’s men had already booked their place in Saudi Arabia 2027 and in the next round of World Cup qualifiers, and will now go into the final match of the group against Bahrain in Dubai in pursuit of the full marks.

Group I: Palestine 0-0 Lebanon

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group I: Palestine 0-0 Lebanon

Doha:  Victory eluded them but that didn’t matter to Palestine as their goalless draw with Lebanon in Group I of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday saw them create history.

The point was enough for Palestine to seal their passage to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time as well as book their spot in the AFC Asian Cup Finals for the fourth consecutive edition.

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.

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.