omparedtomuch of
therestof theworld,
qualificationfor major
events in Asiatends
tobemorecomplex.
Qualifyingforthe
2022 WorldCup,forexample,started
backinJune 2019 andfinishedalmost
three yearslater.Insomeways,it hasnot
reallyfinishedatall becausetheAsian
FootballConfederation(AFC)decided
tomergethe roadtoQatar 2022 with
qualificationtothe 2023 AsianCup.
Itmeansthatall12 teamsthat
reachedthefinalstageofWorldCup
qualificationhavealreadybookedtheir
spotsforthe continentalcompetition:
Japan,Iran,SaudiArabia,South Korea,
Australia,Oman,Vietnam,Lebanon,
Elevenplacesareupforgrabsastheroadtothe 2023 editionconcludes
C
Syria,IraqandUnitedArabEmirates.
Chinacompletethedozen, originallyas
hosts, buttheyannouncedinmid-May
thattheywouldforfeithostingrightsfor
thetournamentduetothecountry’s
“Zero-COVID”policy(atthe timeof
writing,new hostshad yettobe
annnounced,with Japanreportedly
theearlyfrontrunners).Completing
thefieldofalready-qualifiednations
areQatar, whowereassuredofa
placeasdefendingchampions.
Thatleaves 11 placesupforgrabs
andthesewill be filledinJuneas 24
teams aredividedintosixgroupsoffour.
Thegroupwinnersqualifyalongwith
fiveofthe sixbestrunners-up.There
areno homeandawayties;eachgroup
isa round-robineventwithallgames
Asian Cupqualifying
takingplaceinonevenue,whichwill
obviouslyhelpsomemorethanothers.
GroupA will be heldinKuwaitwith
Jordanthe favouritestotaketop spot.
Thetwo West Asianteamsfinishedwith
thesamenumberofpoints in World
Cupqualification, althoughorganisers
wouldprobablypreferthatIndonesia,
withafootball-madpopulation of over
270 million,makeit instead.The“Merah
Putih” have been makingstridesof late
and,with a youngteam,reachedthe final
ofthe AFFChampionship,Southeast
Asia’sregionaltournament,inDecember.
PlayinginWestAsiamakesthatless
likelyeventhoughtheyshouldfinish
aboveNepal,whowill hopethatthe
localknowledgeoftheir Kuwaiticoach
AbdullahAlMutairimakesa difference.
Asia
JOHNDUERDEN
P
r
e
v
ie
w
Confident...India
willplayalloftheir
gamesin Kolkata
86 WORLDSOCCER
