The draw for the third round of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers will be held on July 1st, 2021. Apart from host Qatar, a total of 4.5 slots (4 direct slots and 1 inter-confederation play-off slot) in the final tournament are available for AFC teams

This is the review of the 12 Asian teams that have qualified for the Third Round with a look at their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

Japan sits firmly on the top of the Asian football pyramid with perfect results in the preliminaries. Notwithstanding any disasters, it is a team that is assured a place in Qatar. Runner-up to the Champions Qatar in AFC Asian Cup 2019, Japan maintains the skeleton of that strong team and continues growing in all aspects. Almost all the squad players play in Europe. Their group in the second round of the competition was perhaps the weakest of all the rest and hence Japan was never really tested. Highly disciplined team having qualified for the last six consecutive FIFA World Cups with second round advancements in 2002, 2010, and 2018, and having won the AFC Asian Cup a record four times.

Iran, a traditional football power in Asia, started the completion on a firm footing scoring 14 goals against Cambodia in the 2nd match, however, under an ineffectual coach with little knowledge of Asian football, the Belgian Marc Wilmots, Iran lost two matches in a row and was seriously risking elimination from the preliminaries. However, Wilmots was gone after the two defeats and the appointment of Dragan Skocic, turned Iran’s fortune as they completed the return leg with a perfect record.  Team Melli is trying to achieve a third consecutive qualification to the World Premiere competition and the chances are quite high to do that in 2022.

Iran’s weakness lies in the organization and the incompetency of its federation. The financial difficulties have compounded the issues and made life difficult for Team Melli as far as training camps and friendly match arrangements are concerned. The incompetence of the administration has always been an issue and a big hurdle in the natural progress of football. The strength of the team lies in the forward where the duo of Taremi and Azmoun can conquer the strongest of the defenses. A significant number of new players have been gradually introduced to the team and most of them have displayed quality performances whenever they got their chances. A team with a good bench that the coach can depend on.

Australia remains a strong contender for a place in the finals of FIFA World Cup 2022. Traditionally a strong squad mainly due to the presence of many players in Europe, Australia has maintained its rank as one of the top four in Asia.  Although the Australian league falls short of being in the top ranks of AFC and the league is considered lacking many aspects, the country, however, always manages to produce quality athletes and footballers at a high level.  Although Appointed officially in August 2018 as head coach, Graham Arnold has been with the Australian Nationa team since 2000 in various roles. He is one of the most accomplished coaches in this round and has a vast knowledge of his opponents in Asia. He is assisted by the Dutch coach René Meulensteen forming an impressive partnership.

Korea Republic is by far the most successful World Cup team in Asian football having participated in nine consecutive and ten overall FIFA World Cup tournaments, the most for any Asian country. This succus, however, is not replicated at the AFC Asian Cup with Korea won twice but not since the late fifties. The Koreans have a strong league system and have won many major trophies at the club level. Most of the Korean players have been ending up in the European league. Son Heung-min, the Team Captain and Tottenham Hotspur’s winger is an icon in his country and a player with remarkable speed agility, and scoring instinct. The Team lost 1 point only in the second round but it is expected to be a major contender for a place in the finals yet again.

Saudi Arabia played a nervous round mainly due to pressure on the team by a critical press that wanted nothing less than 100% wins. On the field, an Uzbek team was threatening to dethrone the Saudi’s from the top of the table with some solid performances. However, in the end, it was nothing more than a temporary setback for Saudi Arabia that only drew two matches. n squad comprehensively defeating Uzbekistan and qualifying. The squad lacks the traditional stars of yesteryears with many inexperienced players inducted to add power and punch to what was becoming an aging team. The coach has done a very good job in mixing youth and experience, desp[ite constant cries for his removal due to unsatisfactory result as far as the press was concerned !! Much depends on how the team performs against the top two in its group. Saudi Arabia remains a contender for one of the 5 places.

UAE  the gap widens between AFC’s sixth and seventh teams in terms of historic achievements,  performance, and results. Like Saudi Arabia, UAE finished strongly despite some initial fears at the first stages of the second round. Vietnam was challenging strongly and was topping the table until the last round.

Undoubtedly, Ali Mabkhoot remains the icon of the team. A striker that has proven quality and excels in scoring difficult goals. He needs a better supply of quality balls for UAE to stand any chance of qualification.

IRAQ: After a relatively good start in the qualification, the team struggled to beat Bahrain in two attempts, but the win against Iran was precious and gave it a comfortable margin. However, things turned sour in the return legs in Bahrain with the team finding it hard to score even against the minnows of Cambodia. Their solitary goal of the win against Hong Kong came with the courtesy of an own goal by Hong Kong’s defender. Iraq was lucky not to concede a few goals against Iran but that Azmoun goal was enough to drop Iraq to second and qualify for the next round. The performance of the second round does not augur well for Iraq. It will be a struggle and the chances of advancing to the finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1986 (35 years ago). The squad has some good players such as Bashar Resan and the veteran keeper Jalal Hassan Hashim looks sharp and agile. The defense has lots of gaps and was easily penetrated by most of the opponents. In the forward line, Mohanad Ali looked labored and isolated hence struggling to deliver mainly due to poor service from the midfield. There is the traditional dissatisfaction with the coach too as the fans are not too happy with the Slovenian head coach Srečko Katanec. Rumors have it that the federation is looking for another open on the bench with just a few months left for the start of the third round.

OMAN: Under Branko Ivankovic, Oman has navigated their group with ease except for the two defeats against Qatar. The team still lacks consistency, however, as one is not sure which Oman team will turn up for the match. It will be tough going for Ivankovic to repeat his achievement of qualifying for the finals of the World cup with Iran in 2006, this time with Oman. Stronger and more established teams will be too much for Oman.

SYRIA: Out of the lower-ranked team, Syria is probably the best team that can pop a few surprises and perhaps make it to the continental playoff. If this team really applies itself and plays with enthusiasm and fluidity then they are definitely in with an outside chance. There are a few useful players in the squad. Omar Alsouma is a prolific striker and on a good day, he is unstoppable with a good heading ability. In Mahmoud Al Mawas, they have a terrific player who can tear defenders to pieces. Unfortunately, the backline of Syria can be vulnerable and exposed at times. The shock departure of coach Nabil Maâloul is bound to reduce the chances of Syria, the Dark Horse of the third-round qualifiers.

VIETNAM: undoubtedly one of the top progressing football in Asian football. After their gallant display in AFC Asian Cup 2019, they continued their grand show in the FIFA Qualifiers but fell in the last hurdle. The team lacks international experience and ex[posure. The learning curve is tough and at the competition of this level, the big boys will have no mercy. Chances of reaching anywhere near the top of the group are slim but Vietnam can give the oppositions some tough games.

LEBANON: The team barely made the final 12 but not much expected from them. The Lebanese realistically understand that they can not compete with the big boys and the fact that they have made it to play big names is an honor enough for the fans and the players. Like Vietnam, they might not win any games, but they will not be a punching box of their group iether.

Notes:

1. Korea Rep and Lebanon played 6 games only due to the withdrawal of Korea DPR from this group.
2. FBP is in reference to Foreign Based Players
3. Syria Coach has resigned after the completion of the 2nd round.