FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Dilpreet Singh
The FIFA World Cup qualifiers 2026 are ongoing and all the teams are trying to fix their position for the great event. Japan on their own soil, will be facing their opponent Syria in the second round of the qualifiers. In the table rankings, Japan are at the top with five out of five wins, securing 15 points, whereas Syria are just below them with seven points. Japanese are formidable opponents and when you are playing on their ground, then you have to be extra cautious. Syria will be having the same thing in their mind while facing them.
Comparing both the teams on the basis of quality aspects would be unfair, since the difference is huge. If we talk about the FIFA rankings of both the teams, then Japan stands at a staggering 18th position and Syria on the other hand is far at 89th position. Japan have given consistently winning performances in their last few matches, whereas Syria’s performance has been a mixture of wins, loss and draws. This is going to be an important match, especially from the point of view of Syria.
Tuesday, 11th June at 3:44 PM (IST)
Location: Edion Peace Wing, Hiroshima, Japan
Japan (Last five international matches): W-W-L-W-W
Syria (Last five international matches): L-W-D-L-W
Ayase Ueda, a 25-year-old striker, who has scored many times for his national team on important occasions. In World Cup qualifiers, Ueda has scored a whopping five goals in just three matches. His stats in the AFC Asian Cup was also attractive, as he scored four times in five appearances. He plays for Feyenoord, a club that plays in the Dutch league named Eredivisie. He can be the one who might be the difference for his side.
Omar Khribin is one of the most talented and experienced players on the Syrian team currently. This 30-year-old centre-forward has scored plenty of goals for his national team and his club as well. Khribin plays for Al Wahad in the UAE Pro League and in the last season while playing for the, he scored 19 goals in 25 matches. Khribin also scored a hat trick against Myanmar in the World Cup qualifiers match.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu might make some considerable changes in the Japanese team. Koki Ogawa might be replaced by Ayase Ueda as a striker. Wataru Endo, a midfielder and Koki Machida, a defender might join the team for a match against Syria.
There are a couple of injuries in the Syrian side, as their two attacking options Mahmoud Al Aswad and Daleho Irandust are out. Muayad Al Khouli might join the starting eleven this time against Japan.
Total number of matches: 12
Japan: 10
Syria: 0
Draws: 2
Maekwa; Sugawara, Itakura, Machida, Ito; Endo, Tanaka; Doan, Minamino, Maeda; Ueda
Madania; Oues, Ousou, Krouma, Ajan; Ham, Elias, Al Khouli; Hesar, Khribin, Al Somah
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the Japanese will secure a comfortable win over Syria. Keeping in mind all the uncertainties and possibilities, the chances are high for Japan. Syria has never won against Japan and their last face-off was also a landslide win for Japan.
Prediction: Japan 3-1 Syria
International: Bet365
Japan: AbemaTV
Qatar: Alkass Four
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