JAKARTA (1 Aug 2011) – There will be some rough roads ahead for ASEAN teams in the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers following the official draw which was made in Rio de Janeiro this week.
Indonesia have been placed alongside Qatar – the 2022 World Cup hosts – in Group E against three-times World Cup qualifiers Iran, Bahrain and Indonesia.
Thailand are in Group D against Australia, runners-up to Japan in January’s AFC Asian Cup final, four-times World Cup qualifiers Saudi Arabia and Oman.
ASEAN’s other representative Singapore have been placed in Group A against China, Jordan and Mexico ’86 qualifiers Iraq.
Asian Cup holders Japan will face DPR Korea in the third round of the qualifiers in Group C against Syria and Uzbekistan.
Korea Republic, who complete the quartet of Asian sides that took part at the first edition of the planet’s premier football event to be played in Africa, are in Group B alongside Lebanon, Kuwait and the UAE.
The top two sides from each group advance to the fourth round which will feature two groups of five playing in a round-robin, home and away format.
The winners and runners-up from these groups qualify for Brazil 2014 while the two third-placed teams face each other with the side that emerges victorious meeting a representative from South America in a continental playoff.
2014 FIFA World Cup – Qualifying Round 3
Group A: China, Jordan, Iraq, Singapore
Group B: Korea Republic, Kuwait, UAE, Lebanon
Group C: Japan, Uzbekistan, Syria, DPR Korea
Group D: Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Thailand
Group E: Iran, Qatar, Bahrain, Indonesia
