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.

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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 D: Chinese Taipei 0-2 Kyrgyz Republic

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Group D: Chinese Taipei 0-2 Kyrgyz Republic

Kaohsiung: Kyrgyz Republic secured their second win in a row after defeating Chinese Taipei  2-0 in their Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group D tie at the Nanzih Football Stadium on Thursday.

Second half goals from Valeriy Kichin and Kai Merk sealed the three points for Stefan Tarkovic’s men, with the two sides to meet again in Bishkek on Tuesday.

Group G: Pakistan 0-3 Jordan

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group G: Pakistan 0-3 Jordan

Islamabad: Jordan earned their first win in Group G of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ after they defeated Pakistan 3-0 on Thursday.

The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ runners-up produced a clinical performance, going two up in the first 45 minutes before finishing the job in the second half to reignite their push for a place in the next stage, moving up to four points with the reverse fixture against Pakistan to come on Tuesday.

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 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 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 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 E: Hong Kong, China 0-2 Uzbekistan

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group E: Hong Kong, China 0-2 Uzbekistan

Hong Kong: Goals from Eldor Shomurodov and Rustamjon Ashurmatov earned Uzbekistan a 2-0 win over Hong Kong, China on Thursday to maintain their unbeaten start to the Preliminary Join Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

Shomurodov and Ashurmatov scored in the 49th and 66th  minutes respectively at a sold-out Mongkok Stadium to earn Srecko Katanec’s side their second win in three games following a victory over Turkmenistan and a draw with the Islamic Republic of Iran in November.
 
The result moves the Central Asians onto seven points at the halfway stage in Group E and keeps them in a strong position to advance to the next phase of the preliminaries ahead of the return meeting with Jorn Andersen’s side in Tashkent on Tuesday.

Group C: Singapore 2-2 China PR

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group C: Singapore 2-2 China PR

Singapore: A spirited second half display saw Singapore come from behind to hold China PR to a 2-2 draw in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group C encounter on Thursday.

Tsutomu Ogura’s tactical changes in the second period saw Singapore earn their first point in the group, displaying plenty of fighting spirit to claw their way back from 2-0 down.
 
The two sides meet again at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium on Tuesday, with China PR on four points.

Group F: Indonesia 1-0 Vietnam

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group F: Indonesia 1-0 Vietnam

Jakarta: Indonesia revived their chances of progression after a 1-0 win over Vietnam in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group F match on Thursday.

The victory, a repeat of the same scoreline from their encounter at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, took the Garudas to four points, one ahead of their Southeast Asian rivals with the two to meet again in Hanoi on Tuesday.