A meeting with a commander with ties to South Korean soccer fell through. South Korea’s soccer team will have to battle the “sandy winds” of the Middle East to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America.

South Korea was drawn into Group B alongside Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday (June 27) during the final Asian qualifying draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America (third round). All are Middle Eastern teams.

It’s a favorable grouping.

Against the teams in Group B, South Korea 토토사이트 has the edge in the all-time series.

South Korea has won 9, drawn 12, and lost 2 of their previous games against Iraq, who are considered a “difficult opponent”. The last time they were officially defeated, excluding penalty shootout losses, was in 1984. In their most recent meeting in January, South Korea won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Lee Jae-Sung (Mainz).

The meeting with Jordan stands out. South Korea has three wins, three draws and one loss against Jordan. However, they lost for the first time in their most recent meeting. South Korea lost to Jordan in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in February, ending their hopes of winning the tournament. The third qualifier is seen as a chance for revenge.

South Korea has won four matches against Oman, one against Palestine and 12 against Kuwait with four wins and eight draws.

The much-anticipated meeting with the ‘coldest man alive’ didn’t happen. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), coached by Paulo Bento, were drawn in Group A with Iran, Qatar, and North Korea. Uzbekistan is also in Group A, which is expected to be a tough competition.

Tae Yong Shin’s Indonesia were drawn in Group C. Shin’s men will face the likes of Japan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia in their quest to qualify for the North American World Cup. As usual, Indonesia will need to pull off an ‘underdog revolt’ to get closer to their dream stage.