AFC: Syria to have hard competition with Iran

EghtesadOnline: Syria will have a difficult match against Iran in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Asian Football Confederation announced.

News ID: ۷۷۹۲۵۰

18 September 2017

'Syria will look for the perfect ending to their fairytale run in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a win over Group A winners Islamic Republic of Iran at Azadi Stadium on Tuesday to guarantee at least a play-off berth for the Qasioun Eagles,' AFC reported on Monday.

'Syria sit two points behind second-place Korea Republic and above fourth-place Uzbekistan on goal difference with the Koreans and the Uzbeks facing off in Tashkent in a simultaneous kick-off, meaning a win could even see the visitors claim second spot and a historic first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.'

'But the Syrians will be aware of the difficulty of the task as their opponents are unbeaten so far and have yet to concede a single goal in this campaign – something that has provided Iran with huge motivation even after wrapping up their qualification with a win over Uzbekistan in June.'

According to IRNA, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be the 21st FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018.