Hoping for Oman, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Honda's Cambodia, but we'll get Iraq or Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Pakistan.

My preference as an away tripper would be Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and any of the several ASEAN teams in Pot 5, but the chances of an all AFF group is minuscule.

What's happened to North Korea, I remember when we first joined Asia they were a force. Even gave Brazil a run for their money at the world cup. I'd really like to see them bounce back

I'd say the teams in pot 1 will be in pot 1 for a while. Those teams are shaping up to be the best 8 teams in the region with maybe Uzbekistan knocking at the door

Grand leader prefers basketball and ping pong 

Please Lord let us draw the winner of Bhutan and Guam. I wonder if we would send a HAL team or go for the American Samoa record.

Actually he just prefers rockets these days

I don't think Iraq would be so bad because they don't get a proper home game. China got through in second place last year with 2 draws and a loss. Kuwait would probably be the only away trip that would bother us from pots 4/5. The three pot 3 teams I could see possibly taking a point from us are Palestine, Thailand and N Korea (just purely because of the difficulty of the away leg conditions). Don't think it really matters with Pot 2 as even if we only get 3 points from the games against this team we are still going through. May be better to draw a middle Eastern team there as at least we are almost guaranteed 3 points at home.

I'd love an away trip to Bhutan.

Same, but you have to pay $250 USD for everyday you spend there, though it does cover accommodation, food, transport and a guide.

I think I remember reading that Iraq will be playing home games in Iraq (in a limited number of cities) starting with the upcoming qualifiers.

https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/3/27/iraq-team-to-play-international-football-matches-at-home

Yep in Basra in a 65,000 capacity stadium. Sounds like it will be pretty intimidating for us Aussies. Really hope we don't draw them

It's definitely getting harder in asia, we've been lucky that we've only had to play Iraq and Syria at neutral venues for so long

Turkey vs Uzbekistan tonight should be interesting. 

It's interesting that Iraq are starting to get permission to play at home again. I really don't know how things are in Basra but that'd be by far the toughest away game. 

Have a look at this beast, imagine playing in that at full capacity!

We couldn't even beat them in iran with nobody there!

Just seeing this Basra stadium now. Very new. That'd be cool. Just hope the security is top notch. 

Wow...wasn't ISIS only defeated last Thursday? Frightening to think our lads could be there in 6 months time. I guess it had to happen sooner or later but seriously hope we don't get Iraq more for safety reasons than qualifying.

When is the draw btw?  

17th July.

Basra's on the other side of Iraq from where ISIS were, but in a crowd of tens of thousands it only takes one person...

Yeah it's a really closed country, but that makes the draw even stronger.

See also North Korea away.

AFC preliminary qualification starts tomorrow! 

Full strength Japan 0:0 vs Trinidad and Tobago. Qatar away in Brazil.

You never know which Japan is going to turn up on any given game.  :laugh:

Our guys played in Vietnam in 67 in the middle of the war.. see Johnny Warren's biography. They made 'em tough back then..

Behich has been announced as captain for this match only.

Haven't seen any highlights but I assume Japan had some massive chances. 

Brazil beat Qatar 2:0. 

https://youtu.be/JaGQp61hv9g
Fantastic opening goal by Mongolia! 

Thanks for the stream JS!

Mongolia unlucky not to make it 3 at the death. Hope they keep the margin on the away leg, Brunei would be a shithouse away trip.

Congrats to Norjmoogiin Tsedenbal, who scored the first goal of the 2022 World Cup campaign. :)

Try pronouncing that with a mouthful of mash potatoes!

LOL!