Future host Qatar gets China in tough World Cup draw for 2018
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Qatar received a difficult draw for the 2018 World Cup yesterday as it embarks on its final attempt to qualify for the tournament before hosting it in 2022.
The Gulf state was bracketed with rapidly emerging China, which impressed at this year’s Asian Cup in Australia, and will also face tricky trips to China’s Hong Kong and Bhutan.
Qatar has never reached the World Cup and an appearance at Russia 2018 would help assuage critics who question its credentials as the host of football’s biggest competition.
The reigning Gulf champion disappointingly failed to reach the Asian Cup knockout stages in January and it will be keen to show its worth in international competition.
The draw was made at a plush hotel in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
Alain Perrin’s China is seeded top in Group C and Bhutan created headlines when, as the world’s lowest ranked team, it shocked Sri Lanka to reach the second qualifying round.
“Especially against Qatar it will be difficult... (but) it is important to compete everywhere in the world if we want to go to the World Cup,” the Frenchman said.
“For me, I know Qatar, I know this team. I know what they can do in the World Cup games and it will be difficult, but it is okay. We will have to prepare for our games well.”
Asian Cup-winner Australia faces a challenge from Jordan in Group B, while Japan received a kind draw with Syria, Afghanistan, Singapore and Cambodia in Group E.
North Korea, which reached the 2010 World Cup, could spring a surprise in Group H, where Uzbekistan, Bahrain and the Philippines are seeded above it.
“It’s about time an Asian country breaks the European, South American handle on the World Cups,” said Australia coach Ange Postecoglou.
“We can help raise the standards and push an Asian country to win the World Cup one day. It starts today.”
South Korea, runner-up at this year’s Asian Cup, was pitted against Lebanon, Myanmar, Kuwait and Laos in Group G.
The top eight teams and four best group runners-up will progress to Asia’s final World Cup qualifying round, as well as the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The remaining 28 teams will compete for the other 12 places at the Asian Cup, which has been expanded to 24 sides for 2019. The home-and-away round robin starts on June 11 and finishes on March 29 next year.
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