Since we did a thread on this four years ago and I couldn't find the 2018 edition anywhere, I thought this would be a place where we could track all the teams who are in position to qualify for Russia. March 28: BRAZIL can qualify to the 2018 World Cup with a win and losses by both Ecuador and Chile.
In the spirit of the other thread (and given it's "1-32") 1. Russia ("Qualified" on 2 December 2010 when the hosts were announced. I have no more information about that date) J
If Brazil do it would be early compared to the last couple of times. Usually AFC teams start qualifying in the June window - and the Netherlands also achieved that for 2010 - which must seem like an awful long time ago for them now, J
Iran will qualify next tuesday as first team for the World Cup if: Iran wins against China AND, Qatar wins against Uzbekistan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_–_AFC_Third_Round
How? If Iran beats China and loses on Matchdays 8 and 9, they will have 17 points with 1 game left. If Uzbekistan loses to Qatar and wins on Matchdays 8 and 9, they will have 15 points with 1 game left. They could pass Iran on Matchday 10 if they won and Iran lost. Uzbekistan ends against Korea Republic, but if Korea Republic wins their next 3 games they will have 19 points before playing Uzbekistan.
Together with what you posted. Asuming that Syria would lose next match to South Korea, if they win their 2 next matches vs. China and Qatar, they would reach 14 points, so going into the last match date preciselly against Iran whom would have only 17 by then, if they happen to beat Iran for that last match date, they would add up the same amount of points as Iran, where goal diferentiate can leave anyone of both of them out, for the 3rd place of the group. And if in this case Iran doesn't finish among the 3 best teams in the group (2 direct, while 3rd plays the 3rd of the other group for the playoff spot), means they would get get the honour of getting a position number on the other thread related to the timeline of eliminated teams.....
To clinch its qualification for certain, Iran still need 6 more points from its remaining 4 games. In fact, by my count, the earliest when Iran can clinch qualifying is 12 June, when Iran plays against Uzbekistan in Tehran. I certainly hope we will have done the job by then and not have to wait any longer for our last 2 games (against S.Korea away and Syria in Tehran). As an aside, while our chances look pretty good at this point, I still don't give us the 97% odds that some bookies are giving us to qualify. I see our chances at this point to be around 70%. If the scenario you mention unfolds, namely Iran beats China and the Uzbeks lose to Qatar, then I would start giving Iran better than 90% odds. But even 90% is not 100% and I won't be comfortable until we have actually clinched.
As FIFA.com pointed out Iran will indeed qualify tmw if we beat China and both Korea and Uzbekistan lose their matches. As that will have Iran opening a 7 point gap on koreans and 8 point gap on uzbeks with 3 games left and since uzbekistan and korea will be playing each other theres no way both can pass Iran.
Iran cannot qualify just yet even if they win and South Korea and Uzbekistan both lose. Iran wins tomorrow and loses out. They'll be at 17. Syria could win out and get to 20 points. South Korea could lose their remaining matches and max out at 16. Uzbekistan would max out at 18 if they lose tomorrow and win out, thus leapfrogging Iran. So the only way to guarantee Iran qualifying with only 17 points is if South Korea vs Uzbekistan ends in a draw, and that won't be until later this year.
I'm just wondering what you think will happen to Syria if Korea lose tomorrow. Like, don't you think they'll get some points for doing that. Like, maybe enough to pass Korea in the table. J
I think it would be fair on the poster to point out here that FIFA possibly did make this mistake - but have updated the article since. (While the title is now "Iran look to edge closer" the link address - and presumably the original title is "Iran eye early qualification") Still, don't believe everything you read, eh? J
I think the FIFA.com article was written with the assumption that Syria wouldn't beat Uzbekistan on a last-minute PK, because had that match finished in a draw, Iran would be able to qualify in a few hours.
They have no excuses. they are simply a bunch of useless fvk-ups. With all the money they win, they can perfectly hire more competent people, to avoid this sort of embarrasment, but it's easier and lots cheaper to not do much over it instead.
yes, 33 points will put them at least 2nd at the end of Conmebol qualifiers (if not first, depending on what the other teams do). For facts, with the 30 points they already have, they might already be ready, but up to today, mathematically some other teams might still catch up.
Looking ahead to the qualification matches in June, I have the following scenarios: AFC: IRAN qualifies for the World Cup with: - a win - a draw + South Korea loss An Iran win puts them out of reach of both Uzbekistan and Syria. For the second scenario, Iran would get to 18 points, and both South Korean and Uzbekistan would max out at 19, except they both play each other on the last match day in September. Therefore, only one would be able to surpass Iran. EDIT: BRAZIL is already in. Argentina could win out and get to 34, but in doing so, Uruguay could only get to 32 points.
I think with Uruguay losing they are. Argentina has to win every game - which means beating Uruguay - which means Uruguay can't catch them J