AFC WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
The final two matchdays of AFC World Cup Qualifiers will be UNMISSABLE, with all qualification spots still up for grabs in each group!
Can any of the minnows spring an upset and secure a place at the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East - as several of the more established teams are still hoping to qualify for November’s tournament?
24 MARCH FIXTURES:
AUSTRALIA v JAPAN
09:10 GMT
Channel: Sport 24
A must-win tie for both teams, as they both fight for World Cup qualification.
Japan can guarantee their qualification with a win in Australia, while the hosts must win to ensure their chance of automatic qualification is kept alive until the final group game.
After securing a 2-1 victory in the home leg, Japan will be confident they can repeat the same result away, to ensure that they qualify for their seventh consecutive FIFA World Cup. Australia will look to turn around a stuttering qualification campaign and claim one of the two automatic qualification spots.
SOUTH KOREA v IRAN
11:00 GMT
Channel: Sport 24
With both teams already having qualified for the FIFA World Cup, the top two teams in Group A meet to determine the final placings and seedings for the 2023 Asian Cup.
After a draw in Tehran, South Korea will be favourites to claim victory and top spot.
CHINA v SAUDI ARABIA
15:00 GMT
Channel: Sport 24
Saudi Arabia can confirm their qualification for the Qatar World Cup with a win in China!
A loss or draw would leave them with a difficult elimination game against Australia in Jeddah, with the winner taking the final qualification spot, and the loser needing to win the qualification play-off to face the inter-confederation play-off against the fifth-placed team from South America.
IRAQ v U.A.E.
17:00 GMT
Channel: Sport 24
U.A.E travel to Iraq knowing that a win will ensure their place in the qualification play-off and the chance to qualify for their first FIFA World Cup since 1990.
However, a defeat will mean a nervy last game against already qualified/group favourites; South Korea in Dubai, while Lebanon travel to Tehran.
29 MARCH FIXTURES:
JAPAN v VIETNAM
10:35 GMT
Channel: Sport 24
Depending on their result in Australia, Japan will either be playing to claim the final automatic qualifying spot, or battling for the top group spot.
Could the team with one of the best recent qualifying records, fail to qualify for the first time since 1994, where a last-minute goal in Baghdad resulted in Japan being eliminated on goal difference?
U.A.E v SOUTH KOREA
13:45 GMT
Channel: Sport 24
U.A.E may need a result against already qualified Korea to ensure that they secure third place in Group A and face a playoff against the third-placed team from Group B.
U.A.E will be desperate to ensure that it is them travelling to neighbours Qatar in November to participate in the finals.
SAUDI ARABIA v AUSTRALIA
18:00 GMT
Channel: Sport 24 Extra
Depending on the results from matchday 9 this could be a winner-takes-all clash with the winner claiming the final qualification spot in Group B!
The loser faces a tricky play-off against the third-placed team from group A followed by the inter-confederation play-off with South America’s fifth-placed team.
Both teams will be going all out to ensure that this is their final qualifying match.