The national teams of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE are facing decisive confrontations in the eighth and final round of the second phase of the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In the seventh round, the teams achieved significant victories: Saudi Arabia defeated Singapore with a clean score of 3-0, the UAE swept Indonesia 5-0 at home, and Iraq secured a narrow 1-0 win against Hong Kong. These wins have kept the chances of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE alive for advancing to the next phase, with varied standings before the final round set to take place on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
**Saudi Arabia's Situation**
Saudi Arabia leads Group D with 17 points, two points ahead of Uzbekistan, its competitor in the final qualifying match. The Green Falcons need a win or a draw at home against Uzbekistan at "Mrsool Park" in Riyadh to ensure qualification for the next phase. A loss would end their hopes of World Cup advancement.
**Iraq's Favorable Position**
In Group C, Iraq has two opportunities to secure a spot in the next round of the qualifiers. They top the group with 17 points, just two points ahead of Iran. Iraq will face their direct rival, Iran, at "Muharraq" where they need to either win or draw to guarantee their place in the decisive round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup. A loss would eliminate their hopes of qualifying for Qatar.
**The UAE and Their Sole Opportunity**
The UAE is in a complicated situation in Group G, currently in second place with 15 points, behind leader Vietnam, who has 17 points. The Emirati team will host Vietnam, their direct competitor, on Tuesday. The UAE must win to keep their hopes alive in the World Cup qualifiers; any defeat would end their dreams and secure qualification for "The Golden Dragons."
**Arab Teams' Chances in the Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup**
Saudi journalist Aatif Al-Ahmadi commented on the chances of the Arab Asian teams qualifying for the World Cup before the eighth round, stating, "The eighth round will be difficult for all teams due to the closeness of the points and qualification opportunities. We have three decisive matches starting with Saudi Arabia against Uzbekistan, Iraq against Iran, and the UAE against Vietnam."
He continued, analyzing Saudi Arabia's match against Uzbekistan: "Saudi Arabia has presented impressive performances in the qualifiers, given the physical effort the players have made in an exceptional season. The last match against Uzbekistan will be a true test for the team, where a win or draw is enough to secure qualification ahead of the final qualifiers for the World Cup."
Regarding the UAE vs. Vietnam match, Al-Ahmadi stated: "The UAE has no choice but to win against the developing Vietnam. I believe the UAE team has shown good performances in previous matches and is close to reaching the final qualifiers."
He also analyzed Iraq’s match against Iran: "A draw or win for Iraq guarantees qualification for the next phase. The conditions created by COVID-19 have forced many teams to reconsider due to varied player levels, and the upcoming period may be good for reassessing many aspects."
Al-Ahmadi expressed his hopes for all Arab teams to qualify for World Cup 2022, yet he noted the challenging reality: "I see Saudi Arabia as the most likely Arab team to compete against non-Asian teams for World Cup qualification."
Similarly, Mustafa Halash, a journalist specializing in covering Arab national teams, shared his insights on Saudi Arabia's chances against Uzbekistan: "The Saudi team is experienced and has a strong history in passing through World Cup qualifiers. Their match at Mrsool Park gives them an advantage due to their previous win in Tashkent, along with consecutive victories over Palestine, Yemen, and Singapore, showcasing their readiness."
Halash commented on Iraq's match against Iran: "Iraq is currently in a strong position despite the tough competition. The last-minute victory over Iran gave them confidence. The upcoming match against Iran will be challenging due to the strength of the Iranian attack."
On the UAE vs. Vietnam match, he noted: "The UAE complicated their situation in the group with an unexpected loss to Vietnam due to defensive mistakes. Vietnam has developed considerably under its Korean coach, and the UAE's hopes rest on key players like Ali Mabkhout and Fabio de Lima."
Regarding the chances of Oman, Lebanon, and Kuwait, the analyst stated: "Oman is close to qualification, while Lebanon missed a significant opportunity after losing to weak Sri Lanka and against group leader South Korea. The chances for Jordan and Kuwait remain, with anticipation for Tuesday's matches, alongside early qualifications for Syria and Qatar."
