DUBAI: Uzbekistan and Jordan made history on Thursday by qualifying for their first World Cup, while the pair will be joined in next year’s tournament by perennial participants South Korea.

Uzbekistan, one of the fastest-rising national teams in Asia, drew 0-0 with the UAE in Abu Dhabi to take the second automatic spot in Group ‘A’, although top place is still in play after already qualified Iran lost 1-0 to Qatar in Doha.

Heading into the third round’s final set of fixtures on Tuesday, Iran sit at the summit, two points ahead of Uzbekistan.

The top two teams in each of the three Asian groups go straight to the World Cup, while those finishing third and fourth — the UAE and Qatar hold those slots in Group ‘A’ — enter a fourth round of qualifiers.

Uzbekistan have tried and failed to qualify seven times since their independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, suffering heartbreak in the final stage of continental qualifiers for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014.

Uzbekistan coach Timur Kapadze lauded the efforts.

“We have achieved an important result after a long and difficult journey. A lot of work was done for this result, I sincerely congratulate our people,” Kapadze told Uzbekistan’s online publication Zamin.

“This is not only our victory, but the victory of our entire people. Our players showed determination in every match, worked with all their might, and we achieved the result.”

In Group ‘B’, South Korea confirmed their place in an 11th straight World Cup by defeating Iraq 2-0 in Basra.

The victory, sealed by second-half goals from Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu, means South Korea reclaim top spot from Jordan, whose 3-0 victory against Oman earlier on Thursday ultimately proved enough to secure their participation at the expanded 48-team showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II congratulated the team on social media.

“This historic qualification is well-deserved by our team, which includes stars and cadres of whom we are proud,” he wrote on X.

“Special thanks go to our loyal fans who have been our support and encouragement.”

Jordan’s Ali Olwin netted a hat-trick as the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up etched their name in the record books.

Huge celebrations erupted in Jordan as fans drove their cars through Jordan’s capital Amman late on Thursday, honking their horns and chanting victory while others waved the national flag in triumph.

“We are all with you!” and “It’s getting closer, heroes” read messages written into the night sky in a spectacular drone light show.

Meanwhile, Iraq were reduced to 10 men midway thro­ugh the first half when Ali Al Hamadi’s foul on Cho Yu-min was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review.

Iraq sit third in Group ‘B’, with Oman and Palestine still able to progress to the fourth round of qualifying. Palestine, who defeated Kuwait 2-0 in Ardhiya, host Oman on Tuesday, while Iraq face Jordan in Amman.

Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia ensured the race for second place in Group ‘C’ will go down to the wire courtesy of a 2-0 win against Bahrain in Riffa.Goals in either half from Musab Al Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al Obud saw Herve Renard’s men stay three points behind second-placed Australia.

Victory keeps Tony Popovic’s side three points clear of Saudi Arabia, who won 2-0 against Bahrain in Riffa, with one game to play.

However, the Saudis will have to win on Tuesday in Jeddah by five goals to leapfrog the Socceroos.

Kyrgyzstan missed out on direct qualification after they drew 2-2 against North Korea in Riyadh which ended their chances of going through to the fourth round.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2025