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The stage is set for a potential classic between the top two nations in Group B, each of whom are sat on seven points as things stand.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday October 15th 2024: UK – 12:00pm / US ET – 7:00am / US PT – 4:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Bet365 & FIFA+ / US – FIFA+
KOREA REPUBLIC PREVIEW: ON THE BACK OF CONSECUTIVE AWAY WINS
Korea Republic have lost only one of their last 28 World Cup qualifying matches (W19 D8) and they have won seven and drawn two of their previous nine matches in this current World Cup qualifying campaign. This underlines how strong a team they are and with back-to-back away wins having just been recorded, it would be surprise to see them give up top spot in Group B anytime soon.
IRAQ PREVIEW: VISITORS STILL YET TO CONCEDE IN GROUP B
Iraq’s defensive stability to continues to prove valuable to their qualification success so far. Two 1-0 victories are testament to that with the most recent of those being against Palestine. They’ve still not conceded a goal across their Group B campaign, although opponents Korea Republic will certainly pose their biggest challenge so far.
KOREA REPUBLIC TEAM NEWS: SUPERSTAR HEUNG-MIN-SON REMAINS ABSENT
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): H.W Cho; Seol, Y. Cho, Kim, M. Lee; Hwang, Park; Kang-in Lee, J. Lee, Hee-chan Hwang; M.K Joo
UNAVAILABLE: Son (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Hee-chan Hwang (Injured)
IRAQ TEAM NEWS: SULAKA SHOULD RETURN TO XI FOLLOWING SUSPENSION
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Hassan; Saadoon, Sulaka, Tahseen, Doski; Iqbal, Attwan, Bayesh, Hadi; Ali, Hussein
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
KOREA REPUBLIC VS IRAQ PREDICTION
These two teams currently hold the automatic places in Group B to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is the home side however, who are most likely to stay there and we fully expect them to pull away at some stage.
Iraq are certainly improving themselves and they are yet to concede a goal in three matches of the third round of qualifying. They are incredibly well organised and that is the foundation to their success.
Expect this to be a low-scoring affair but we do like the hosts’ chances of getting the win. They have the edge in quality and should have enough to eventually break down Iraq.
KOREA REPUBLIC VS IRAQ TIP: KOREA REPUBLIC TO WIN TO NIL