Australia’s Socceroos could be heading to North Korea as the draw for the next stage of AFC World Cup qualifying is held this evening.
The Socceroos will learn their group for the third round. Six teams will be drawn into each group and the top two will directly advance into the World Cup.
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The third and fourth-placed teams in each group will move into a fourth round, where two more teams will qualify, followed by a fifth round for a spot in the intercontinental playoff.
This means the Socceroos have plenty of chances to make it to the event, being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and will be favoured to advance in this third round.
However because Australia ranks 23rd in the world it is in the second pot of teams, and will play one of Japan, Iran or South Korea in the third round stage.
In pot 6 sits North Korea, and if Australia draws the hermit nation its first away game would theoretically be played in Pyongyang on September 10.
But it is not clear whether the Socceroos would be given permission to travel there, or if the game would be played a neutral nation – the North Koreans hosted games in Laos during the previous round.
If Australia draws Iran it will be the first time the nations have faced off since the infamous World Cup qualifier at the MCG in 1997.
In total eight teams are guaranteed qualification from Asia, plus a possible ninth via the intercontinental playoff.
The first qualifying games will be played on September 5, with Australia hosting one of UAE, Oman or Bahrain on that date. The Socceroos are able to qualify for the World Cup as early as March 2025 with the final games to be played in early June 2025.
POTS FOR AFC WORLD CUP QUALIFYING THIRD ROUND
One team from each pot will be placed in each group
Pot 1: Japan (FIFA ranking 17), Iran (20), South Korea (22)
Pot 2: Australia (23), Qatar (35), Iraq (55)
Pot 3: Saudi Arabia (56), Uzbekistan (62), Jordan (68)
Pot 4: UAE (69), Oman (76), Bahrain (81)
Pot 5: China (88), Palestine (95), Kyrgyzstan (101)
Pot 6: North Korea (110), Indonesia (134), Kuwait (137)
Live updates below
Group A: North Korea (aka DPR Korea)
Group B: Kuwait
Group C: Indonesia