Asian Qualifiers: Which team is emerging as Conmebol’s rival in the playoffs?

Thousands of miles away in Asia, the excitement of football is also red hot. The tireless struggle of the teams from the Asian continent in the playoffs it keeps. In this beginning of the month of February, one more date of the qualifier was played and the way to Qatar 2022 It is almost coming to an end, just like in South America, where they are quite attentive to what happens in the other part of the world.

In November 2021, FIFA developed the draw for the intercontinental playoff pairings, which will define the last teams classified to Qatar 2022.

In that sense, the fifth place in the South American qualifier still does not have a sure duel. In fact, in the absence of only three dates (9 points) to be played, up to seven teams can occupy that place -privileged or not- in the table.

The board is very tight in that area.

– The Asian rival –

A total of 46 teams have participated in the qualifying process from the Asian continent since June 2019. More than two years of this tough competition have passed and several countries have fallen by the wayside round after round.

In fact, the third round of the AFC Qualifiers is currently being played with the 12 best teams on this continent, divided into two groups (A and B).

In this context, the eighth date of the third round was played this first day of February and the table moved, especially in Group B. In fact, since last year almost everything has been defined in Group A. And it is that Iran Y South Korea They already have their World Cup presence assured, after placing first and second in the table with 22 and 20 points respectively.

Of course, there are still no certainties of third place in Group A.

It will be important for the UAE to beat Iraq next time, and for Lebanon to lose or draw against Syria, in order to secure third place and therefore the fourth round of the Qualifiers.

As for Group B, the fight is quite even, but only in the first places. Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia they are unattainable for their other rivals, but they still have to define which teams will get the direct ticket to the World Cup.

Saudi Arabia is the leader with 19 points, while Japan and Australia follow with 18 and 15 points respectively.

Along these lines, both teams should meet in a single match at a neutral venue to define Conmebol’s rival in the intercontinental playoff.