September 28 – With Asian World Cup qualifiers set to resume next Thursday with round three of group fixtures, the AFC has confirmed that Qatar will again be the neutral venue for the ‘home’ matches of Australia and Iraq.
Strict quarantine and lockdown rules in Australia have prevented the national team from hosting home games in the final round World Cup 2022 qualifiers, though now the Australian federation looks to have agreed with government a pathway that will allow them to host Saudi Arabia in a crucial game on November 11.
Before then the Aussies, who top Group B on goal difference with two wins, face a tricky opponent in Oman in Qatar, before travelling to face Japan five days later.
Oman are third in the group having beaten Japan in their opening game of group play, before losing to joint group leaders on points, Saudi Arabia.
The game against Oman will be played at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha and will follow the Group A match between Iraq and Lebanon.
Only the top two teams from each group are guaranteed a place at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Third place teams will play-off for a place in the inter-continental play-off.
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