HONG KONG – Japan can take a major step towards the 2026 World Cup Finals over the next week if they can negotiate away tests at Indonesia and China in the space of five days.
Son Heung-min’s South Korea will also look to close on a spot at the showpiece in North America as they travel to Kuwait on Nov 14 and then face Palestine in Jordan next week.
Meanwhile, Herve Renard, who masterminded a famous victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, takes charge of Saudi Arabia for the first time since returning to the job.
But the spotlight will be on an estimated crowd of 78,000, who will pack out the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta in hope of seeing the hosts pull off a shock on Nov 15.
Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan will then need to face down another hostile crowd when they travel to Xiamen on Nov 19 to play China.
“If you look at the Fifa rankings and the games in the World Cup qualifiers so far, you might think that the advantage is with Japan,” said coach Moriyasu.
“But we are playing both games away and I think it will be tough.”
With the third Asian qualifying round nearing the halfway point, Japan are five points clear at the top of Group C from Australia and Saudi Arabia, who face each other on Nov 14.
The top two from each of the three groups go straight to the World Cup.
China and Indonesia occupy the bottom two spots in Group C but are not out of the reckoning as teams finishing third and fourth will advance to a further qualifying stage.
Moriyasu has called up Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi for the first time in a year after first-choice striker Ayase Ueda was injured.
Furuhashi has been prolific since joining the Glasgow club in 2021 but he has been used sparingly by Moriyasu, who left him out of his squads for the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Asian Cup.
The 29-year-old joins Celtic teammates Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate in the Japan squad.
Furuhashi, who was linked with a move to Manchester City over the summer, has scored six goals in 15 games for the Scottish Premiership leaders this season.
Australia host Saudi Arabia in Melbourne with both nations on five points after four games.
The Socceroos then travel to Bahrain on Nov 19 when the Saudis will play in Indonesia.
Frenchman Renard, 56, is back for a second spell with Saudi Arabia following the sacking of Italian Roberto Mancini in October.
Like Japan, South Korea are on course for 2026, three points clear at the top of Group B.
They welcome back captain and talisman Son after he missed victories over Iraq and Asian Cup runners-up Jordan last month with a hamstring injury.
Coach Hong Myung-bo has hinted that he may manage the 32-year-old forward’s workload by restricting his playing time against the bottom two teams in the group, Kuwait and Palestine.
“People say the next two opponents are underdogs, but I think these will be extremely tough matches,” said Hong.
“I can absolutely say these matches will be even more important than the ones we played in October.”
Iran lead Uzbekistan on goal difference at the top of Group A, six points clear of the United Arab Emirates in third.
It will be top against bottom when Iran take on North Korea in the Laotian capital Vientiane on Nov 14.
Uzbekistan visit Asian champions Qatar, who lie fourth following a slow start to the third qualifying stage, while the UAE host fifth-placed Kyrgyzstan. AFP, REUTERS
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MCI (P) 066/10/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2024 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.
