The 8th round of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers promises thrilling and intense matches as teams fight for a spot in the final tournament. Teams face immense pressure, as the top two will qualify directly, the third and fourth-placed teams will enter the fourth qualifying round, and the bottom two teams will be eliminated.
Group A: Iran and Uzbekistan Lead, UAE and Qatar Face Tight Race
In Group A, Iran (19 points) and Uzbekistan (16 points) are firmly in the lead, practically securing their places in the final tournament. UAE and Qatar, with 10 points, are pushing hard to maintain their positions, avoiding falling further behind. Kyrgyzstan and North Korea’s chances of an upset are slim.
In the 8th round, Iran will face Uzbekistan. A draw would strengthen Iran’s leading position. In the other two matches, UAE is expected to overcome North Korea, while Qatar might defeat Kyrgyzstan.
Group B: South Korea, Jordan, and Iraq in Tricky Three-Way Contest
Group B sees a fierce battle between South Korea (15 points), Jordan, and Iraq (both with 12 points). South Korea needs a win against Jordan at home to maintain their World Cup 2026 hopes. Iraq is expected to win their match against Palestine to consolidate their position. The match between Kuwait and Oman is also crucial in deciding the fourth-place spot.
Group C: Japan Already Qualified, Others Battle for Spots
Japan has already secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup, three rounds ahead of schedule. The battle for the remaining spots in Group C is fierce. Australia (10 points), Saudi Arabia (9 points), Indonesia, Bahrain, and China (all with 6 points) are vying for the top three positions in the final three rounds.
Following a heavy defeat to Australia (1-5), Indonesia needs a win against Bahrain to have a chance of reaching the top three. China also needs to beat Australia at home to avoid early elimination. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia aims to earn points against Japan to maintain their hope for a top-two finish.
Detailed Match Schedule (March 25th & 26th)
This section provides detailed schedules for the 8th round matches, including specific times and locations.
Conclusion
The 8th round of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers promises a series of thrilling and intense matches. The fierce competition among teams will add to the excitement of the tournament. Let’s watch for the next developments in the race to the final tournament.
References
- Original Article Source (AFC) (Images are sourced from the original article)
