The 2026 World Cup qualifiers Asian round of 18 is back in flames, the international break in October begins, the third round of the round of 18 is in full swing, in Group B, the seeded team Korea meets the powerhouse Jordan away, Iraq is at home against Palestine, Oman is home to Kuwait, each team has joy and sorrow.
Jordan 0-2 Korea
Jordan is ranked 68th in the world, and in the Qatar Asian Cup at the beginning of this year, the Jordan team upset all the way to the final, and finally won the runner-up, creating the best result in the team's history in the Asian Cup. In the round of 36, Jordan beat Saudi Arabia to win the group and advance to the round of 18. In the first two rounds of the round of 18, Jordan won one and drew one unbeaten record, leading the standings.
The Korea team is ranked 23rd in the world, and the team is second only to the Japan team in terms of value, and the Korea team has reached the World Cup finals 11 times in history, which is a record existence in Asian football. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Korea reached the round of 16. In the round of 18, Korea won one and drew one, ranking behind Jordan.
In the game, in the 38th minute, Korea shook a defender on the right and crossed, and Lee Jaeseong jumped up to score with a header unmarked, Korea 1-0 Jordan. In the 67th minute, Oh Hyun-kyun dodged a low shot from the left side of the box to extend the lead, Korea 2-0 Jordan. In the end, the Korea team successfully took revenge and rose to the top of the group.
Oman 4-0 Kuwait
Oman is ranked 78th in the world, and in the last World Preliminaries, Oman and the national football team finally won the fourth place in the group. Oman won 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in the Asian round of 36 of this World Preliminary Tournament and ranked first in the group and advanced to the round of 18. In the first two rounds of the round of 18, Oman lost to Iraq and Korea respectively, suffering two consecutive defeats and finishing bottom of the group.
Kuwait is ranked 134th in the world, the lowest ranked team in the world in the round of 18. Kuwait reached the top of Asia in the 80s, winning the 1980 Asian Cup and reaching a World Cup final. In the first two rounds of the round of 18, Kuwait drew with Jordan and Iraq respectively, and remained unbeaten in both games and finished fourth in Group B.
In the game, Oman scored two goals in each half, beating Kuwait by four goals at home to win its first win in the round of 18 and jump to fourth in the group, while Kuwait suffered its first defeat and ranked fifth.
Iraq 1-0 Palestine
Iraq is ranked 55th in the world and 6th in Asia, and in the round of 36 of the Asian zone of this World Preliminary Championship, Iraq won all six games in the group stage, scoring 17 goals and conceding only 2 goals. Iraq are the favourites to qualify for this World Preliminary Tournament, Iraq defeated Oman at home in the first two rounds of the round of 18, and drew away from Kuwait.
Palestine is ranked 98th in the world, seven places lower than the national football team. However, Palestine turned the grief of civil war into momentum, finishing second in the group in the round of 36 and qualifying. In the first two rounds of the round of 18, Palestine drew away to Korea in the first round, causing a big upset, and in the second round, Palestine lost at home to Jordan.
In the game, in the 31st minute of the first half, Hussein scored the only goal of the game, and finally Iraq defeated Palestine 1-0, accumulating 7 points in three rounds, equal with Korea, ranking second due to less goal difference, and in the next round, Iraq will play away to Korea for the top spot.