Japan, Australia and South Korea will launch their qualifying campaigns today for the 2026 football World Cup, with Palestine among the 36 teams in action in Asia.
A record eight direct spots and one intercontinental playoff berth are up for grabs for Asian Football Confederation sides at the expanded World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Nine groups of four in the AFC will play each other, with the top two from each going through to the final qualifying round.
Hong Kong open their campaign against Iran tonight.
Japan have won their last six games, plundering 24 goals and conceding just five along the way. The Blue Samurai also beat Germany 4-1 and Turkey 4-2.
Hajime Moriyasu, whose side kick off their campaign against Myanmar in Osaka, warned that a Group B also featuring Syria and North Korea would not be easy.
”They are teams that wouldn’t look out of place in the final round,” the coach said. “We can’t afford to slack off and we need to keep striving to be better.”
South Korea begin their qualifying campaign at home to Singapore, buoyed by having scored 11 goals without reply in friendly wins over Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Vietnam.
China and Thailand have also been drawn in what looks like being one of the toughest groups of the qualifiers.
Australia will kick off their campaign against Bangladesh in Melbourne. The Socceroos have also been drawn alongside Lebanon and Palestine in Group I.
Palestine are away to Lebanon in their opener but the conflict between Israel and Hamas means they will play against Australia in Kuwait next week.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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