Saudi Arabia yesterday were drawn to take on Iraq and Indonesia in the fourth phase of Asia’s preliminaries for next year’s FIFA World Cup, with back-to-back Asian Cup winners Qatar to face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.
The winners of each of the three-team groups, which are to be played in October, would join already-qualified Australia, Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran and Jordan at next year’s expanded 48-nation finals in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Saudi Arabia, who are attempting to qualify for a seventh World Cup finals since 1994, are to host Group A and open against Indonesia on Oct. 8.
Photo: AFP
Indonesia play Graham Arnold’s Iraq on Oct. 11 before Saudi Arabia and Iraq face off on Oct. 14.
Group B hosts Qatar, organizers of the 2022 World Cup, but who have never qualified for the finals, are to take on Oman in their first game on Oct. 8. UAE face Oman on Oct. 11, with Qatar and the UAE meeting on Oct. 14.
The nations finishing in second place in each group would advance to a further round of qualifying to be held over two legs in November on a home-and-away basis.
Asia has been granted eight guaranteed berths at the finals. A possible ninth berth is available to the winner of November’s match-up via an intercontinental playoff in March next year.
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