Tag: fifa world cup qualifiers

India’s remaining FIFA World Cup qualifiers to be held in Qatar | Football News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: India will play their remaining three FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Qatar as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided to host the matches in centralised venues owing to the coronavirus-related travel and quarantine restrictions.
As per the original schedule, the Indian team would have played against Qatar at home, Bangladesh away and Afghanistan at home, but the global pandemic has forced radical changes in the fixtures.
“FIFA World Cup 2022 host Qatar, will welcome Group E opponents Oman, Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh with Japan set to provide the stage for the matches in Group F comprising Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Myanmar and Mongolia,” the AFC said in a release on Friday.
“Following a process of close consultation with Asia’s Member Associations, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today confirmed the centralised venues for the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 matches scheduled to take place from 31 May to June 15, 2021.”
Qatar is also hosting the FIFA World Cup next year.
India are currently fourth in Group E with three points from five games. Qatar top the table with 13 points while Oman are a point behind them in second.
The second round of qualification matches have not been held since November 2019 due to the pandemic.
Last month, the AFC had said that the majority of Asia’s 2022 World Cup qualifying matches in March would be postponed to May and June — with a few exceptions that include Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Though out of contention for a World Cup berth, India are still in contention for a spot in the Asian Cup, to be held in China.
Eight group winners and four best runners-up will progress to the continent’s 12-team final qualifying stage for the World Cup.
A third-place finish in the group will help India get a direct berth in the third round of the qualifiers for the Asian Cup.
The Indian team was to play against Qatar on October 8 in Bhubaneswar last year but the match was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As per the AFC release, China will host Group A which comprises leaders Syria, Philippines, Maldives and Guam.
Kuwait has been confirmed as the host for Group B which includes Australia, Jordan, Nepal and Chinese Taipei.
Bahrain will stage the matches in Group C which features table-toppers Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Hong Kong and Cambodia, while Saudi Arabia have been selected to hold the matches in Group D, which includes the likes of Uzbekistan, Singapore, Yemen and Palestine.
The United Arab Emirates have been picked as the host for Group G, which consists of ASEAN challengers Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia while South Korea will stage the Group H matches, featuring leaders Turkmenistan, Lebanon, North Korea and Sri Lanka.

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Juergen Klopp Threatens to Withdraw Liverpool Players from FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has threatened to withdraw players from international matches this month if there is a chance they will have to quarantine on their return under coronavirus rules. Arrivals in Britain from “Red List” countries are subject to 10 days’ hotel confinement, which would apply to Brazilian trio Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Fabinho and Portugal forward Diogo Jota. World governing body FIFA has given clubs dispensation to prevent players who may be affected by the regulations from joining up with their countries for the matches, which include World Cup qualifiers.

And Klopp fully intends to apply it, saying: “I think all the clubs agree that with the same problems we cannot just let the boys go and then sort the situation when they come back by placing our players in a 10-day quarantine in a hotel, it is just not possible.

“I understand the needs of the different FAs (football associations) but this is a time where we cannot make everyone happy and we have to admit the players are paid by the clubs so it means we have to be first priority.”

Alisson is set to return to the side for the visit of Chelsea on Thursday after missing the win at Sheffield United as he was mourning the death of his father in a swimming accident in Brazil, while Fabinho could also return to a depleted defence after four games out through injury.

Sixth-placed Liverpool, who are one point behind Chelsea in the race for top-four spots, have not won at home since mid-December as their title defence has collapsed.

Chelsea are still unbeaten under new boss Thomas Tuchel and Klopp is aware of the size of the task facing his side.

Tuchel was Klopp’s successor at both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and there is plenty of admiration between the German coaches.

“We’ve known each other for a long time, he worked for Mainz as I did, he worked for Dortmund as I did, so a lot of people we know are the same,” said Klopp.

“I think he is an outstanding coach and it will be tricky to play his team, like it always was.”

Tuchel described his compatriot as “always super funny and very, very interesting” but both men will be concentrated on the job at hand of qualifying for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish.

“A week ago we were out now we’re around it again,” said Klopp after Liverpool took advantage of dropped points by Chelsea and West Ham last weekend to get back to winning ways at Sheffield United. “The challenge and job is clear. We have to win games and as many as possible to make it. We know that.”



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