Round 2 - Group B: Syria 0-5 Japan

Fri, 29 Mar, 2024

Round 2 - Group B: Syria 0-5 Japan

Jeddah: Ayase Ueda took his tally to five goals in two games as Japan sealed a second successive victory in the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 with an impressive 5-0 win over Syria in Jeddah on Tuesday.

Ueda scored a brace at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium to add to the hat-trick he plundered against Myanmar in Osaka last Thursday for a Japanese side that maintained their perfect start to their campaign in Group B.
 
Three goals in eight first half minutes set Hajime Moriyasu’s side along the path to victory, with Takefusa Kubo opening the scoring before Ueda’s double gave the Samurai Blue an unassailable advantage at the break.
 
Yukinari Sugawara added the fourth two minutes into the second half while substitute Mao Hosoya completed the scoring eight minutes from time.

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Round 2 - MD2: Results & Reports

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Round 2 - MD2: Results & Reports

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Two of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ concluded on Tuesday with another round of exciting action across the continent.

Korea Republic, seeking to qualify for an 11th consecutive FIFA World Cup, registered a crucial win by defeating China PR away while there were also victories for Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar while Islamic Republic of Iran had to settle for draw with Uzbekistan. 
 
The qualifiers will return in March 2024, with the nine group winners and their respective runners-up to 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.

Stay updated on all of Tuesday's reaction with the-AFC.com. 

Penalty heartbreak for IR Iran

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Penalty heartbreak for IR Iran

Surabaya: Morocco scored a stoppage-time equaliser then beat Islamic Republic of Iran in a penalty shootout to secure a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Iran's Hesam Nafari missed from the spot before Morocco goalkeeper Taha Benrhozil saved a twice-taken kick from Kasra Taheri. That gave Fouad Zahouani the chance to win it for the Atlas Cubs – and he duly smashed his penalty home.
 
Esmaeil Gholizadeh’s superb second-half header looked to have sent Iran through but a powerful volley from Nassim Azaouzi sent the game to penalties.

Lebanon eye historic knockout stage spot

Tue, 21 Nov, 2023

Lebanon eye historic knockout stage spot

Kuala Lumpur: Denied a place in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ knockout stage by the slimmest of margins, Lebanon are determined to enjoy an extended run at Qatar 2023. 

The West Asian side lost out to Vietnam on the fairplay rule in 2019 and head coach Nikola Jurcevic's mission will be to ensure Lebanon advance past the group stage for the first time in what will be their third participation on the continental stage. 

China PR part ways with Shui Qingxia

Tue, 21 Nov, 2023

China PR part ways with Shui Qingxia

Beijing: Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Monday the departure of women’s national team head coach Shui Qingxia.

An interim coach will be appointed to oversee China PR’s upcoming two friendly matches in the United States in December.

Skorza to leave Urawa

Tue, 21 Nov, 2023

Skorza to leave Urawa

Saitama: Urawa Red Diamonds have announced that head coach Maciej Skorza will leave the club at the end of the current season, less than a year after leading the J1 League side to their third AFC Champions League title.

Skorza was appointed ahead of the current season and steered Urawa to a 2-1 aggregate victory over Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia over two legs in the final in May having replaced Spain’s Ricardo Rodriguez at the helm.