Asian World Cup hopes on the line! | AFC Asian Qualifiers™ Road to 26 – Matchday 9 Preview

The AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26 will witness the penultimate round of matches being played on Thursday, with four automatic spots to next year's FIFA World Cup still at stake. With Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan having confirmed their respective tickets, those hoping to join them at the global showpiece co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States still have some work to do. Making the next round of matches even more enticing is the fact that those out of running for the automatic spots still have a chance of advancing to the playoffs, where an additional two tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be at stake. The third and fourth place teams from each group will advance to the playoffs and with so much at stake, the AFC.com previews Matchday 9 of the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26. Uzbekistan's task is very clear. Avoid defeat against the United Arab Emirates at the Al-Nayyan Stadium in Sharjah and a debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals will be confirmed. Timur Kapadze's side sit second in the Group A standings, three behind Iran but, crucially, four ahead of UAE with two matchdays remaining. Uzbekistan have hardly put a foot wrong in their qualifying campaign and will be determined to not slip up, not when FIFA World Cup qualification is at their doorstep. UAE, however, will also be seeking victories that will take them within a point of Uzbekistan and keep their hopes of qualifying automatically alive going into next week's final matchday. Seeking a second appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals, UAE will be led by Cosmin Olarou, with the Romanian replacing Paulo Bento as head coach after Matchday 8. Qatar, with their hopes of automatic qualification dashed, will aim to lock down a playoff spot when they welcome Iran to the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. The two-time AFC Asian Cup winners will also have a new head coach in charge, with Spaniard Julen Lopetegui having replaced compatriot Luis Garcia in early May. Qatar on 10 points, four ahead of Kyrgyz Republic with the Central Asian side to meet DPR Korea on Thursday. Korea Republic, barring the unexpected, will surely take one of the two automatic spots from Group B with the East Asian side on 16 points, three ahead of Jordan. Hon Myung-bo's side play Iraq on Thursday, in what promises to be an epic encounter with the West Asian side having recently appointed Australian Graham Arnold as head coach. It is a tie Iraq must win as they sit a point behind second-placed Jordan, with the two to meet in Oman on Tuesday. Jordan are away to Oman on Thursday, with their West Asian rivals also still very much in the running for automatic qualification. Oman are on 10 points and victory against Jordan at the Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex will take them level with their West Asian rivals. Kuwait, meanwhile, will host Palestine, with both sides desperately needing the three points if they are to keep their hopes of advancing to the playoffs alive. Australia will hope to maximise home ground advantage when they face already qualified Japan at the Perth Stadium. Victory against Japan will mean Australia will go into their final matchday clash with Saudi Arabia, with their fate very much in their own hands as the Socceroos look to qualify automatically for the first time in three editions. While Tony Popovic's side can't catch Japan at the top of the standings, they go into the final two rounds of matches on 13 points, three ahead of Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia a further one adrift. Saudi Arabia travel to face Bahrain, who desperately need victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Indonesia meet China, PR, who also need to win their remaining two matches if they are to fight for the playoff spots from the group. Expect joy and despair from matchday 9 of the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26. Stay updated on the thrills and spills through the AFC's digital platforms, and don't forget to download the AFC Life app on the Apple App Store and Google Play for live scores, results, news and more.