Asia can secure its first members at the World Cup - as well as Qatar - on Thursday with Iran and South Korea both reaching for their seats.

Iran are top of Group A with 16 points from six matches and South Korea are two points behind second-placed runners-up, eight ahead of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in third place.
Only two of the top two were secured a place in the World Cup starting in November. If the UAE neglects to defeat Syria in Dubai it means that South Korea will get a further ten appearances if it thinks it will defeat Lebanon in Sidon. Lebanon has scored just five points in six games.

South Korea, which reached the semi-finals in 2002, was preparing for the game - and next Tuesday will work with Syria - on teaching courses in Turkey. Preparations worked well with a 5-1 victory over Iceland in Jan. 15 and a 4-0 win over Moldova on Friday.
"The results and the shows have been great," said South Korean consultant Paulo Bento, who could not name Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan. They received injuries while playing for English Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Iran is like a third developing World Cup appearance and a 6th place overall - the victory over Iraq in Tehran will suffice. Mentor Dragan Skocic reviewed Mehdi Taremi on the team after previously locking up FC Porto striker with key words spoken at the meeting.
"I have high demands, he's an amazing player. I'm glad we resolved the dispute verbally. We have the welfare of the community team as the most important thing." Said Skocic.

The top two races are the most open in Group B. Saudi Arabia is four times ahead of Japan and five ahead of Australia and can make the same stage of the 6th World Cup successfully over Oman in Jeddah.

 Australia have featured in each World Cup since joining the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 and the requirements to beat Vietnam, a team that has lost all six of its longest games in this power round, to stay in touch. Mentor Graham Arnold will not be found out of action in Melbourne as a Socceroos adviser with a COVID-19 contract.
"We have four games to play now and we are level with Qatar and I hope we will play four games," Arnold said. "We are here today, where we have everything in our hands." Japan similarly needs to focus on home to China ahead of Tuesday's difficult meeting with Saudi Arabia. Samurai Blue is about to enter seventh place in the World Cup but will be without Kyogo Furuhashi. The Celtic striker was in fine form in Scotland but struggled to stay healthy.
"We have no negative thoughts about the details of his physical condition," said Japanese counselor Hajime Moriyasu. "But as it was at a level where we were worried about whether he could add to the team we chose not to beat him in this."

Out in Japan is Li Xiaopeng's first controlling match, appointed as China's adviser in November, taking over from Li Tie. With just one win in six games, China is expected to return to the World Cup with some excitement as its launch in 2002 has been completed, although the team could start the 2023 Asian Cup, which they will have.