Vietnam in Japan's group in World Cup final qualification round

The draw on Thursday, conducted by the Asian Football Confederation, put Vietnam into group B with Japan, the continent’s top team in FIFA World Ranking, along with Australia (4th), Saudi Arabia (6th), China (9th) and Oman (11th).

Vietnam are 13th in Asia and 92nd in the world.

In the other group, Iran, South Korea, UAE, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon will go head to head.

The top two teams of each group will seal their places at World Cup Qatar 2022, while the third-placed teams advance to the Asian playoffs to battle for a spot at the intercontinental clash.

The final round of World Cup qualifiers is scheduled to be played on Sept. 2 and 7, Oct. 7 and 12, Nov. 11 and 16, 2021, as well as Jan. 27 and Feb. 1, March 24 and 29, 2022.

In group B, Japan have qualified for the World Cup seven times, followed by Australia and Saudi Arabia, both five times, and China only once. Vietnam and Oman have never qualified for the global competition before.

Back in June, Vietnam made history by advancing to the final round of World Cup Asian qualifiers for the first time as one of the best second-placed teams of the second round. They went unbeaten in seven games before losing to the UAE in the final game.

 

 

Vietnam in Japan's group in World Cup final qualification round

Vietnam’s historic journey to final World Cup qualifying round