The 8th round of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers promises exciting and intense matches, with teams battling for valuable spots in the final tournament. Teams face immense pressure, as the top two will directly qualify, the third and fourth placed teams will advance to the fourth round, and the bottom two 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 at the top, virtually securing their places in the final tournament. UAE and Qatar, with 10 points, are battling hard to maintain their positions and avoid slipping further down the table. Kyrgyzstan and North Korea’s chances of an upset are slim.
In round 8, Iran will face Uzbekistan. A draw will strengthen Iran’s position at the top. In the other two matches, UAE is expected to overcome North Korea, while Qatar could potentially defeat Kyrgyzstan.
Group B: South Korea, Jordan, and Iraq in a Triangular Struggle
In Group B, a fierce competition exists between South Korea (15 points), Jordan, and Iraq (both with 12 points). South Korea needs a victory over Jordan at home to maintain their World Cup hopes. Iraq is expected to win their match against Palestine to solidify their position. The match between Kuwait and Oman is crucial for determining the fourth-place spot.
Group C: Japan Already Qualified, Others Fight for Spots
Japan has already secured their place in the 2026 World Cup, three rounds in advance. The competition in Group C between Australia (10 points), Saudi Arabia (9 points), Indonesia, Bahrain, and China (all with 6 points) remains intense in the final three rounds.
Following a heavy defeat against Australia (1-5), Indonesia needs a victory against Bahrain to have a chance at the top 3. China also needs to beat Australia at home to avoid early elimination. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia aims to gain points against Japan to maintain their hopes of climbing to the top 2 in the group.
Detailed Match Schedule (March 25th & 26th)
The article provides a detailed schedule of the matches in round 8, including specific times and locations.
Conclusion
Round 8 of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers promises a series of exciting and intense matches. The fierce competition between teams will add extra excitement to the tournament. Let’s anticipate the next developments in the race for qualifying spots.
References
- Original Article Source (AFC) Images sourced from the original article.
