The UAE hope to build on their incredible 5-0 win over Asian champions Qatar last November
While Iran need victory against the UAE in Tehran on Thursday to almost confirm their place in the 2026 Fifa World Cup, the visitors will also be eyeing three points to keep their own hopes alive of qualifying for the global showpiece for the first time since 1990.
Iran will welcome UAE to the Azadi Stadium holding a three-point lead over second-placed Uzbekistan while UAE are a further three adrift.
Iran, seeking to qualify for a fourth consecutive Fifa World Cup, hardly put a foot wrong in their first six ties, only dropping points in a 0-0 draw with Uzbekistan on Matchday Three.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei, in having named a talent-laden squad, will expect another three points with Iran expected to be backed by capacity crowd at the Azadi Stadium.
Paulo Bento’s UAE revived their hopes of taking one of the two automatic slots from the group with an incredible 5-0 win over Qatar last November and the Portuguese tactician will be hoping his players can maintain the same form.
Despite Iran – who won the reverse fixture 1-0 last September – having home ground advantage, Bento will rally his players to deliver as UAE chase a second appearance at the Fifa World Cup.
Asia has eight direct slots for the next Fifa World Cup which will be a 48-team tournament.
Eighteen teams have been divided into three groups of six each in the third round of the Asian qualifiers.
The UAE have been drawn in Group A with Qatar, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and North Korea.
South Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait are competing in Group B while Group C features Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China and Indonesia.
The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup. The third and fourth-placed teams in each group will then compete in the six-team fourth round of qualifiers.
The six teams in the fourth round will be divided into two groups of three teams. The winners of each group will earn the last two direct slots for the World Cup, while the two runners-up teams will be locked in a playoff battle.
The winner of the Asian playoff will then advance to an inter-confederation playoff tournament featuring five other teams for the final two slots in the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Timur Kapadze will aim to continue Srecko Katanec’s good work when Uzbekistan welcome Kyrgyz Republic to the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent on Thursday.
Uzbekistan legend Kapadze replaced Katanec as head coach after the Slovenian stepped down due to health issues.
While Katanec will be missed, Eldor Shomurodov and his teammates will be determined to push on as Uzbekistan seek an inaugural appearance at the World Cup.
Although they trail Iran by three points, they are ahead of the UAE by the same number of points and with their fate very much in their own hands, Uzbekistan will be determined to not slip up against Kyrgyz Republic.
Kyrgyz Republic’s hopes of a top-two finish is as good as dashed, with only three points in the kitty after six matches.
However, they were competitive in all six matches despite making their debut at this stage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers and with a playoff spot still within reach, they will look to stand tall against Central Asian rivals Uzbekistan.
