AFC Asian Qualifiers: Five classic Australia v Japan encounters

Wed, 23 Mar, 2022

AFC Asian Qualifiers: Five classic Australia v Japan encounters

Sydney: The stakes could scarcely be higher when Australia and Japan meet in Thursday’s crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers-Road to Qatar™ clash and, for the last 15 years or so, that has been par for the course.

Ever since Australia became a part of the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, the two nations have been virtually inseparable, meeting in every FIFA World Cup™ qualification cycle and two blockbuster AFC Asian Cup™ clashes, including the 2011 final in Doha.
 
They don’t share a border, or a language, and they had only met a handful of times prior to the 1990s but the Socceroos and Samurai Blue have since developed one of the continent’s most compelling footballing rivalries, with almost every meeting between them coming at a crucial time, and invariably taking on blockbuster status.
 
Their next fixture comfortably fulfills those criteria.

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Japan's Moriyasu focused on securing Qatar 2022 ticket

Mon, 21 Mar, 2022

Japan's Moriyasu focused on securing Qatar 2022 ticket

Sydney: Hajime Moriyasu is 90 minutes from leading Japan to the country’s seventh consecutive FIFA World Cup™, with his old friend and former Sanfrecce Hiroshima teammate Graham Arnold and the Socceroos standing between the Samurai Blue and a place at Qatar 2022.

Victory over Australia in Sydney on Thursday will secure Japan’s ticket for the Finals and bring a satisfying conclusion to a qualifying campaign that has featured plenty of challenges for Moriyasu, as he explains in an exclusive interview with the-AFC.com.

Arnold: Socceroos’ newcomers can change their lives in crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers

Sun, 20 Mar, 2022

Arnold: Socceroos’ newcomers can change their lives in crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers

Sydney: Australia head coach Graham Arnold has urged the uncapped players in his squad to seize their moment and deliver “life-changing” performances in their crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers-Road to Qatar™ fixtures against Japan and Saudi Arabia. 

Arnold has featured in crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs as both a player and assistant coach, and steered teams in the AFC Asian Cup™ and AFC Champions League™ as a head coach, but he has arguably never known stakes as high as these.
 
The 58-year-old is two wins away from guiding the Socceroos to a fifth successive trip to the global Finals, but while the equation is clear, it is far from straightforward.

Renard: I want us to top the AFC Asian Qualifiers, and the job is not over yet

Tue, 22 Mar, 2022

Renard: I want us to top the AFC Asian Qualifiers, and the job is not over yet

Sharjah: Saudi Arabia head coach Hervé Renard believes his side deserve to finish top of their group in the AFC Asian Qualifiers-Road to Qatar™ ahead of the decisive last two fixtures against China PR and Australia.

The Green Falcons have been in the top two of the group from day one of the qualifiers and moved past Australia into first place after Matchday Four, when the Socceroos were beaten by Japan and Saudi Arabia defeated China PR 3-2.

A 2-0 reversal against Japan in Saitama in their most recent outing – their first loss of the campaign -  meant Renard’s men would have to wait for the final window to confirm qualification to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, but with a one-point advantage over Japan and a four-point cushion over third placed Australia, the Saudis know their fate is in their hands.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ in Numbers

Tue, 22 Mar, 2022

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ in Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: The final round of AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ is upon us with third place still to play for in Group A and two automatic tickets for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ up for grabs in Group B ahead of Matchdays Nine and Ten.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic have already progressed but will battle it out for top spot in Group A, where three teams are competing for the playoff berth in third place. In Group B, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia are all aiming to finish in the top two positions. 

It’s been a thrilling ride in the final round of AFC Asian Qualifiers to date, and we highlight some of the numbers that stand out.

Procedures for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ released

Tue, 22 Mar, 2022

Procedures for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ released

Zurich: As the biggest milestone ahead of football’s flagship event fast approaches, the procedures for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ are now available.

Fans and teams will find out their paths to possible glory on 1 April from 19:00 (local time), at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center at which time 29 out of the 32 participants will be known.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™: How Group A stands

Fri, 18 Mar, 2022

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™: How Group A stands

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ campaign has reached the home straight as the sides get set for their concluding Matchdays Nine and Ten encounters in the week ahead. 

In Group A, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic have already guaranteed their progression and will now battle it out for the top spot. Below them, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Iraq remain in the mix for third place and the playoff ticket. 

With the upcoming games to be held on March 24 and March 29, the-AFC.com looks at how things stand ahead of the final two rounds of fixtures.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™: How Group B stands

Fri, 18 Mar, 2022

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™: How Group B stands

Kuala Lumpur: It’s crunch time in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ campaign as three teams battle it out for two automatic qualification places at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. 

Saudi Arabia lead the way but Japan are hot on their heels while Australia – who still have to play the top two – remain firmly in the running as the group gets set for a thrilling finale.

With the Matchdays Nine and Ten fixtures to be played on March 24 and March 29, the-AFC.com looks at the state of play ahead of the final two rounds of fixtures.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - The Qualifiers So Far

Sat, 19 Mar, 2022

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - The Qualifiers So Far

Kuala Lumpur: With 15 of the 32 berths at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ now filled, more than half of the tickets for November’s Finals still remain unclaimed with less than six months remaining until kick-off. 

That, though, will all change by the end of March with another 14 spots set to be filled in a qualifying frenzy as the countdown to the Finals intensifies.