FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Highlights: Palestine Sting Iraq 2-1; Oman Beat Kuwait; Iran Seal Fourth Straight Berth

Welcome to the live coverage of the AFC Qualifiers Round 3 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Japan vs Saudi Arabia is underway right now and China vs Australia will begin is almost 10 minutes from now.

The China Vs Australia match started on time with the host getting an advantage in the first minute. But the visitors managed to pacify the situation. Now, both teams are trying to take an early lead in the game.

The South Korea vs Jordan match started on time and J Lee of South Korea helped his team take an early lead in the game with a fifth-minute goal in the match.

South Korea 1-0 Jordan

Australia took a lead in the game against China when J. Irvine scored the first goal for his team in the 16th minute. China are trying their best to score the equaliser before the half time.

China 0-1 Australia

We are in the 75th minute in the Japan vs Saudi Arabia clash and yet to see a goal there. Remember that Japan have already qualified, while Saudi Arabia (9 points) are fighting it out, with Australia (10 points) ahead of them.

Australia blank China 2-0 to surge ahead in the qualification race from Group C. They now have 13 points as against Saudi Arabia's 10. The Arabs play out a 0-0 draw with Japan, who have already qualified for the World Cup. Meanwhile, South Korea play a 1-1 draw with Jordan.

In another vital Group C encounter, Indonesia are now up against Bahrain. The clash is goalless after 20 minutes in Jakarta. To go a better sense of the qualifying scenarios, check out the teams that have sealed berths and what others need to do to qualify in our report HERE.

The 24-year-old Ole Romeny finds the net for Indonesia in the 24th minute against Bahrain. The Netherlands-born forward thus puts the hosts ahead in the first half.

Over at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek, hosts Kyrgyzstan are locked 0-0 against Qatar in a Group A clash. Qatar are currently third, while Kyrgyzstan fifth in the group with 11 and four points respectively.

Valery Kichin scores in the added time of first half to put hosts Kyrgyzstan ahead 1-0 against Qatar at half-time. Over in Jakarta, the scoreline stays at 1-0 in the favour of Indonesia against Bahrain, heading into the mid-game interval.

Qatar draw level against Kyrgyzstan, courtesy a Lucas Mendes goal in the 52nd minute. The 34-year-old defender Mendes, however is sent off in the 55th and Qatar are left with 10 men for the rest of the match.

Hosts Kyrgyzstan make the most of the one-man advantage with two late goals to virtually seal the contest in their favour. Aleksandr Mishchenko scores in the 82nd minute and Alimardon Shukurov in the third minute of stoppage time to put Kyrgyzstan 3-1 up against Qatar, with the final whistle imminent.

Kyrgyzstan beat 10-man Qatar 3-1 but stay fifth in Group A with six points. Qatar are fourth and within contention of a FIFA World Cup 2026 berth. Over in Jakarta, Indonesia defeat Bahrain to be placed fourth in Group C with nine points and keep their fate in their own hands.

In Tehran, Uzbekistan have taken a 1-0 lead against Iran in their Group A encounter. Though they have conceded a goal in the 16th minute to the tourists' Khojimat Erkinov, Iran know that a win tonight will seal a FIFA World Cup berth for them.

The scoreline stays at 1-0 in favour of Uzbekistan at half-time in Tehran. Iran will look to find two or more goals in the second half to force a victory that would confirm qualification for them.

Mehdi Taremi scores for Itan in the 52nd minute, but Uzbekistan respond immediately via Abbosbek Fayzullaev in the 53rd to sustain their one-goal advantage. Nine more minutes of regulation time remain. Can Iran find an equalizer?

Mehdi Taremi does it for Iran! He finds the equaliser in the 83rd minute and the match ends at 2-2. As it turns out, one point is enough for the hosts to top group A and seal their fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup spot.

In a Group B clash, the bottom-placed Palestine are hosting Iraq, who are third currently. The match, being played in Amman, Jordan, is goalless after the first 20 minutes.

At the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City, Kuwait are locked in a 0-0 stalemate with Oman at half-time. This is another Group B battle, with Kuwait fifth and Oman fourth in the standings.

Aymen Hussein finds the back of the net in the 34th minute to put Iraq ahead 1-0 against Palestine in Amman. A victory for Iraq would put them in a good position to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as they would have 15 points from eight games.

The Group A clash between North Korea and United Arab Emirates is locked in a 1-1 stalemate currently. Fabio Lima scored in the fifth minute to put UAE ahead, but North Korea responded via Yu-Song Kim in the 43rd. UAE are third in the group with 11 points and a win tonight would keep them well and truly in the running for a World Cup berth. Korea, on the other hand, are in the bottom with three points so far.

Issam Al Sabhi breaks the deadlock in the Kuwait vs Oman clash, netting in the 56th minute to bring the tourists in the lead. A win tonight would brighten Oman's chances of qualifying for the global showpiece.

What a stunning turnaround from Palestine! Trailing for the majority of the game, they find goals in the 88th minute from Wessam Abou Ali and seventh minute of stoppage time from Amid Mahajna to sneak a 2-1 victory. With that, Iraq's chances of qualifying for the World Cup have taken a major hit; they have 12 points from eight games now. Palestine are now fifth in Group B with six points.

The scoreline stays at 0-1 in Oman's favour in Kuwait City. Oman are fourth in Group B with 10 points, while Kuwait are in the bottom with five points.

Another late goal in the Asian qualifiers. Sultan Adill Alamiri scores in the eighth minute of added time to take UAE to a 2-1 victory over North Korea. UAE are third in Group A with 13 points, while North Korea stay bottom with 2 points.