Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Uzbekistan will play friendly matches against Iraq and Yemen as they tune up for the resumption of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, it has been announced.
The White Wolves are slated to play Iraq on July 24 and Yemen on August 24 as they gear up for the third qualification round for Russia 2018.
The Uzbeks advanced to the third qualification hurdle after finishing top of Group H above DPR Korea, the Philippines, Bahrain and Yemen in the Russia 2018/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint qualifiers, which also earned the Central Asians a ticket to the finals of the continental competition.
After April's draw in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, Samvel Babayan's side found themselves in Group A of the third qualification round alongside Iran, Korea Republic, China, Qatar and Syria, and will begin their campaign against the Syrians on October 1, 2016.
The winner and runner-up of Groups A and B of the third qualification round will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia finals while the third-placed teams of each group will advance to the Asian Play-off Round, with the victorious side taking on the team that finishes fourth in the fifth round of the CONCACAF qualifiers in a two-legged inter-confederation play-off.
Photo: UPL