Group E: Uzbekistan 3-0 Hong Kong, China

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Group E: Uzbekistan 3-0 Hong Kong, China

Tashkent: Uzbekistan continued their fine form in the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, defeating Hong Kong, China 3-0 on Tuesday to seal early progression.

Eldor Shomurodov’s 40th international goal gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute at Bunyodkor Stadium before second-half goals from substitutes Khojimat Erkinov and Oston Urunov sealed the Uzbeks' third win in four Group E games.
 
Uzbekistan's spot in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Finals was confirmed following Islamic Republic of Iran's 1-0 win over Turkmenistan in the group's other tie, which also ensured they advanced. 

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Round 2 - MD4: Results & Reports

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Round 2 - MD4: Results & Reports

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Four of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ concluded on Tuesday with six teams confirming early progression.

Australia, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates and Qatar booked their places in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and also confirmed their tickets to the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.
 
The nine group winners and the respective runners-up 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 Tuesday's matches with the-AFC.com.

Group A: India 1-2 Afghanistan

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

Group A: India 1-2 Afghanistan

Guwahati: An inspired Afghanistan came from behind to beat India 2-1 in Group A of Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Tuesday.

Trailing to a Sunil Chhetri penalty at the interval, Afghanistan drew level through Rahmat Akbari in the 70th minute, with Sharif Mukhammad converting from the spot in the 88th minute for Afghanistan to take the win and draw level with India on four points. 

Group C: Thailand 0-3 Korea Republic

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

Group C: Thailand 0-3 Korea Republic

Bangkok: Korea Republic moved a step closer to booking their spot in the third phase of the preliminaries of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 as Lee Jae-sung, Son Heung-min and Park Jin-seop scored in a 3-0 win over Thailand on Tuesday.

The victory at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium moves the Koreans, under interim coach Hwang Sun-hong, onto 10 points from four games and means a draw in their meeting with hosts Singapore on June 6 will seal their progress from Group C.
 
The result leaves Thailand in third place in the standings, three points behind China PR following their 4-1 win over Singapore earlier in the day with the two nations due to meet on Matchday Five.

Group C: China PR 4-1 Singapore

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

Group C: China PR 4-1 Singapore

Tianjin: Branko Ivankovic secured his first win as China PR head coach as his side defeated Singapore 4-1 in the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday. 

Wu Lei’s 21st-minute opener for China was cancelled out by a Faris Ramli header in the very next minute at Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, but second half goals from Fei Nanduo, another for Wu Lei, and a late strike from Wei Shihao gave the hosts their second win in Group C of the qualifiers. 
 
The two teams played out a 2-2 draw in Singapore last week as the hosts rescued a point with second-half goals from Faris and Jacob Mahler after Wu Lei’s brace had given China a 2-0 lead in Ivankovic’s first game in charge. 

Group D: Malaysia 0-2 Oman

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Group D: Malaysia 0-2 Oman

Kuala Lumpur: Oman defeated Malaysia 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 on Tuesday. 

The richly deserved win leaves Oman on nine points, level with Kyrgyz Republic, who defeated Chinese Taipei 5-1. 

Group D: Kyrgyz Republic 5-1 Chinese Taipei

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Group D: Kyrgyz Republic 5-1 Chinese Taipei

Bishkek: A Joel Kojo hat-trick helped Kyrgyz Republic record an emphatic 5-1 home win over Chinese Taipei in Group D of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ tie on Tuesday.

The Central Asian nation had emerged 2-0 winners when the two sides met in Kaohsiung on Thursday, and they had little difficulty in collecting the three points again at home. A third win on the trot sees Kyrgyz Republic move temporarily top of Group D with nine points while Chinese Taipei remain winless and rooted to the bottom of the group.

Group F: Vietnam 0-3 Indonesia

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Group F: Vietnam 0-3 Indonesia

Hanoi: Indonesia defeated Vietnam 3-0 in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ match at My Dinh Stadium on Tuesday.

Shin Tae-yong orchestrated Indonesia’s first win on Vietnamese soil since 2004 thanks to an impressive first half display, giving them a four-point advantage over their Southeast Asian rivals in Group F with two matchdays remaining.

Group F: Philippines 0-5 Iraq

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Group F: Philippines 0-5 Iraq

Manila: Iraq cruised into the next round of preliminaries for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and booked their berth at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ as Jesus Casas’ side notched up a 5-0 win over the Philippines on Tuesday to stay perfect in Group F.

Aymen Hussein’s first half brace, scored either side of Amir Ali Ammari’s 31st minute strike, sent the Lions of Mesopotamia on their way to a comprehensive victory over the Azkals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Zidane Iqbal and Zaid Tahseen netted in the second half to seal a win that moves Iraq onto a maximum 12 points from their opening four games and guarantees Casas’ team will finish in the top two places to enter into the draw for the next phase on June 27.

Group I: Lebanon 0-5 Australia

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Group I: Lebanon 0-5 Australia

Canberra: Australia secured their place in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and booked their berth at AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ following their emphatic 5-0 win over Lebanon in the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 Group I tie on Tuesday.

Having defeated their visitors by a 2-0 scoreline in the first meeting in Parramatta last Thursday, the home side got off to a fast start at Gio Stadium in Canberra through Kusini Yengi in the second minute of the match, before an own-goal early in the second half then doubled the advantage.
 
A man-of-the-match performance by winger Craig Goodwin was then capped by a stunning strike to make it 3-0 to the Socceroos, before substitute John Iredale and Goodwin once more found the net to wrap up the points for Graham Arnold’s men.

Group I: Bangladesh 0-1 Palestine

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Group I: Bangladesh 0-1 Palestine

Dhaka: Michael Termanini’s stoppage time strike earned Palestine a 1-0 win over Bangladesh in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ tie on Tuesday.

With Australia already sealing one of the two berths from Group I courtesy of their 5-0 win over Lebanon, the result at Bashundhara Kings Arena sees Palestine open up a five-point gap on Lebanon, who they will meet next on June 6.