In the ongoing AFC World Cup qualifiers, South Korea is set to face Iraq in a highly anticipated match on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. This encounter is pivotal for both teams as they strive to secure their spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match will take place at the Yongin Mireu Stadium in South Korea.
South Korea, currently leading Group B with seven points, has been on a roll. They secured a comfortable two-goal victory over Jordan in their last match, with goals from Lee Jae-Sung and Oh Hyun-Gyu. This win has solidified their position at the top of the group standings, creating a three-point buffer between themselves and third-placed Jordan (Sports Mole).
Under the guidance of coach Hong Myung-Bo, who has enjoyed an unbeaten start back at the helm of South Korea, the team is looking to maintain their momentum. Hong Myung-Bo's return to the national team has been marked by a series of positive results, including their recent win against Jordan. The Taegeuk Warriors will be aiming to continue their winning streak and keep their Group B unbeaten record intact (Sports Mole).
Despite their impressive form, South Korea will be without their star player Son Heung-Min due to a muscle injury sustained while on club duty with Tottenham Hotspur. Additionally, midfielder Eom Ji-Sung is a doubt for this match after being forced off in the 51st minute during the win over Jordan (Sports Mole).
Iraq, on the other hand, is looking to emulate the national legends of the late 1980s who managed to qualify for the World Cup in 1986. With AFC now receiving eight automatic spots at the World Cup instead of the previous four due to the expansion of the tournament for the 2026 edition, Iraq has a genuine shot at making their first appearance at the competition in exactly four decades (Sports Mole).
Iraq boosted their dreams of making it to North America with a narrow one-goal victory over Palestine courtesy of a first-half strike from 57-cap striker Ayman Hussein. Despite sitting level on points with South Korea at the top of the section standings, the Lions of Mesopotamia are major underdogs for success on Tuesday night (Sports Mole).
The Lions of Mesopotamia will need to rely on their defense, which has kept clean sheets against Oman and Kuwait. They are expected to stick with a centre-back pairing of Manaf Younnes and Zaid Tahseen ahead of goalkeeper Jalal Hassan. There is set to be an alteration in the engine room, though, with Amjad Attwan expected to replace Safa Hadi as Amir Al-Ammari's partner (Sports Mole).
South Korea's possible starting lineup includes Hyeon-Woo in goal, with a defense consisting of Young-Woo, Yu-Min, Min-Jae, and Myung-Jae. In midfield, they will likely feature Yong-Woo, In-Beom, Kang-In, Jae-Sung, and Joon-Ho. Upfront, Min-Kyu is expected to lead the attack (Sports Mole).
Iraq's possible starting lineup includes Hassan in goal, with a defense consisting of Ali, Younnes, Tahseen, and Doski. In midfield, they will likely feature Attwan, Al-Ammari, Bayesh, Jasim, and Amyn. Upfront, Hussein is expected to lead the attack (Sports Mole).
Given South Korea's recent form and their ability to keep clean sheets against Oman, Kuwait, and Palestine, it is expected that they will have too much quality for Iraq. Therefore, Sports Mole predicts a 2-0 victory for South Korea in this crucial World Cup qualifier (Sports Mole).
The match is set to be broadcast live on KBS 2TV starting at 7:30 p.m. local time. This encounter is not only significant for the teams involved but also for football fans worldwide who are eager to see which team will emerge victorious in this battle for World Cup qualification (KBS World).
For more information on the match schedule, time, statistics, and predictions, viewers can refer to the live streaming information provided in the video description. This video does not show a live broadcast of the match but offers insights into the match schedule, time, statistics, and predictions (Football Team JB).
In conclusion, South Korea vs. Iraq is a highly anticipated match that promises to be an exciting encounter. With both teams vying for World Cup qualification, the stakes are high. The outcome of this match will have significant implications for both teams' chances in the AFC World Cup qualifiers.
