This is a good question. Games in Australia are pretty much out of the question as there is a 14 day quarantine and FIFA windows don't last that long. Players based in Australia would have to serve the quarantine when they return so when the A league gets back in season clubs may not be keen on losing players for two weeks after the window. I'm not sure of the situation in other nations but I suspect each nation will have a lot of issues to work through in getting their best team on the park.
We must treat every single game as very hard game in this round which is tougher than previous round. Lebanon drew with Korea in Lebanon in last round. Lebanon beat both Iran and South Korea at home in WCQs 2014. What we need is effort. Nothing will be earned without hard effort. We should go game by game as well.
I am still very sad for not seeing you with us in group A. Unfortunately It is what It is and we cannot do anything about it other than accepting it.
No one knows yet. We have to wait for the final decision. Personally I see no reason to have centralised venues for our group. According to the news I read, Lebanon choose its home stadium for next round which is Saida International Stadium in Lebanon. Iraq and Syria should choose a neutral venue for their home games based on the news I read. The venue they choose for their home games must not be any of group A countries. Most importantly, none of group A teams have any problem to come to the Iran, South Korea, Uae, and Lebanon. So IMO group A games should be played on a home and away basis. Regard group B, It is more tricky. IMO If only one team cannot host its home games due to the pandemic and tight entry requirements, they should choose a neutral venue close to their country for their home games. If more than one team cannot host its home games due to the pandemic and tight entry requirements, then group B games should be played in centralised venues.
I'm not sure what the requirements from other nations are but home games for us are probably not likely this year. It's possible that there could be some sort of swap i.e. have our early games as away games in the hope that home games are possible next year. Even away games are difficult at the moment as Australian based players must do a two week quarantine on return. Six members of the Australian squad in Kuwait were ineligible to play in the A League Grand Final because of this. An announcement by our Government yesterday on proposed changes to how we handle the pandemic means it looks unlikely we will see change until a certain percentage (they were reluctant to name a number but some regional leaders put it at 70-80%) of adults are fully vaccinated. We are currently at around 6% and unless something changes significantly we wont reach those numbers until some time next year.
We will play at home if it is decided to be played in a home and away format. FIFA has given the green light for Iraq to host official games in Basra. We already have played many friendlies and a WCQ against Hong Kong in Basra. There will probably be no fans allowed due to COVID which is unfortunate as I’ve always wanted Iraq to play meaningful wcqs in front of 60000 Iraqis. Syria will have to play on neutral ground. I hope to see it in home and away format but I don’t see it happening due to Group B. Both China and Australia have very tough entry requirements and I’m certain that AFC will pick one format for both groups.
Hello everyone. I am back after almost 6 years. This is good to see some of the old posters again. To be honest, the draws were good for both Iran and Korea. We aren't as strong a team as we were 4 years ago but still I believe Iran and Korea will probably have no difficulty going through. The other group however is a bit tricky. I am happy we are not in that group
I had no idea that vaccination rates were so low in Australia. The problem isn’t just Australia, but also China. I think that the AFC will decide to play in a central venue for each group. I’m fine with this as long as the countries hosting the group are not in the group like in the last round.
So based on what I read here, I think there will be centralised venues for each group most likely and no team will host its group for sake of fairness.
I have no problem with a centralized venue for the two groups, if that venue is World Cup hosts Qatar for both groups. I mention Qatar in particular because: 1- the World Cup will be hosted in Qatar and qualifying rounds there will come closest to simulating which sides will be the AFC's strongest sides for a World Cup hosted there; 2- allows us to gauge how prepared Qatar will be to host the World Cup and gives them the opportunity to work out any glitches and problems; 3- it is more equitable/fair compared to the alternatives
There is something that is bothering me about the draw even though it is (on paper) as good a draw as Iran could hope for. But if my worry is shown to be well-founded, it speaks to a corruption that plagues a lot of institutions we rely on being supposedly "impartial" (and, if not that, as being at least sufficiently above board to not be tantamount to criminal rackets). What is bothering me is the repeated coincidence of seeing S. Korea end up avoiding Japan (and Saudi Arabia) consecutively, despite the seeding making that mathematically improbable (that then also helps accounts for the fact that Iran and Australia have never faced on another since the Socceroos joined the AFC). Iran and Japan have been seeded apart (as #1 seeds) the last few of World Cup qualifying campaigns, which explains why we have avoided Japan in our group the past few WCQs. But for S.Korea to avoid being drawn in the same group with Japan is, even by itself, merely a 50/50 proposition. For this to happen consecutively for as long as it has (last time they both were in the same group was in 1997) seems a little bit more than coincidence. In a way, S.Korea's path to WC qualification used to be (when Japan were a 2nd/3rd tier Asian side) paved by occasionally regional (E. Asia/W.Asia) based/influenced qualifying groups (which then put them in the same group as Japan rather regularly) and subsequently, with the emergence of Japan as arguably Asia's best team in the past couple of decades, by them consecutively avoiding Japan (and, in the last 3 WCQs, Saudi Arabia as well). No gripes from me as a fan of Iran's team: S.Korea hasn't defeated Iran in any World Cup qualifier since 1993! Since then. we have faced S.Korea 6 times (home-away in 2010, 2014 and 2018 WCQs) and have 3 wins, 3 draws and 0 losses against them. But I don't want to get a feeling that the draws are rigged and I'm getting a bit of that feeling right now.
FIFA is hosting Arab Cup in December to judge the preparedness of Qatar to host the WCQ. I seriously doubt Qatar will be given hosting rights for two groups if neutral games are being played. Secondly it will be huge burden on Qatar if it happens as, back to back hosting international matches will drain them well before WC,
Before AFC announced the seeding for final round of WCQs 2018, I remember one of Uzbekistan fans in BigSoccer (I think It was Diego Aguirre if I am correct) said here AFC will never put Japan and South Korea in the same World Cup qualifying group which almost means no Australia and Iran in the same World Cup qualifying group as well. Wish I could ask him for his reasons at that time. Before the draw for final round of WCQs 2022, I really thought Iran and South Korea will be in different groups this time because they were in the same group three consecutive times. However I was wrong and they were drawn in the same group for 4th consecutive times. Anyway It is what It is and cannot do anything about it other than accepting it. The previous round showed us nothing is earned easily and without hard effort. The past successes do not guarantee future successes. We must go game by game as well. South Korea is always one of powerhouses in Asia football. They beat us the last two times we met in Asian Cup and we always must be at our best to have any chance of success against them.
You are right but anything less than finishing top two in the group is unacceptable for both Iran and South Korea.
All, lets share which match you think was the most exciting matches in order. I would put following order: Saudi Arabia x China: This was the most exciting match since it has all the goals, drama and almost 9+ minutes of injury time. China came back into the game very strongly and almost had a draw if it was not for the substitute saudi goalie to hold his line. Australia x Saudi Arabia: This was also an exciting game and had scary stuff in last 30 minutes of the game for the home fans. UAE x Iran: This was also an exciting game to watch Korea x UAE: This game was nicely played by UAE on away ground. Saudi Arabia x Japan: This game was well balanced but home pressure did the trick Japan x Oman (in Japan) Oman x Japan (in Oman): Both games 6 & 7 were treat to watch. UAE x Iraq Lebanon x Syria: Both games 8 & 9 were good end-to-end stuff for neutrals. Rest were all regular games in which, favorites won so nothing special about them.