Doha: The focus of the world’s most populous continent and beyond will be riveted on Kuala Lumpur today, when the virtual draw for the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar 2022 takes centrestage as Asia’s top 12 nations discover their opponents in their quest to seal the coveted spots for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
With the excitement and anticipation reaching fever pitch, some of Asia’s most renowned tacticians are expected to join the virtual draw, which will divide 12 teams into two groups of six each, with the winners and runners-up sealing their places for the global showpiece, while the third-placed teams will advance to the Asian play-off to determine the side that will advance to the intercontinental play-off.
Based on the special FIFA Ranking released for Asian teams on June 18, top seeds Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran will take their places in Pot 1, with Pot 2 comprising Australia and Korea Republic while Pot 3 will include Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Pot 4 will contain Iraq and China PR, followed by Oman and Syria in Pot 5 and debutants Vietnam and Lebanon completing the line-up in Pot 6.
The draw will begin with Pot 6, with the first and second balls drawn from each pot placed in Groups A and B respectively until the sequence is completed all the way through to Pot 1.
The AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar is scheduled to be played on the following 10 match days: September 2 and 7, October 7 and 12, and November 11 and 16, 2021, as well as January 27 and February 1, 2022, before reaching its climax on March 24 and 29, 2022.
Meanwhile, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors head coach Kim Sang-sik vowed to make the most of the two-way tie against Singapore’s Tampines Rovers ahead of their first game on Matchday Three of the 2021 AFC Champions League today.
The Korea Republic side go into this match second in Group H behind Japan’s Gamba Osaka, while Tampines Rovers are bottom with no points after two losses.
“These two matches against Tampines Rovers are important for us to reach the Round of 16,” said Kim.
“People say they are a weak team but I do not agree with that. They are a strong team and that is why we need to stay focused on the match to get a result."
