Asian champions Qatar have been frustrated in World Cup 2026 Asian qualifying, being held to a 2-2 draw by North Korea.

That enabled Iran, who downed the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan, who beat Kyrgyzstan, to take a grip on Group A with two wins from two.

Only the top two in each group qualify automatically for the finals, to be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

North Korea frustrated the Qataris in the pouring rain in Vientiane when Kang Kuk Chol cracked in a 50th-minute free kick to earn his side 2-2 draw despite playing much of the game with 10 men following Jang Kuk Chol’s red card.

In Group B, Son Heung-min scored South Korea‘s crucial second in Muscat against Oman to seal his side’s first win of the third round after Hwang Hee-chan had his opener cancelled out by Jung Seung-hyun‘s own goal.

Son netted with eight minutes remaining and Joo Min-kyu put the result beyond doubt deep in injury time to lift the pressure on head coach Hong Myung-bo following an opening 0-0 draw with Palestine.

The Koreans are in a three-way tie at the top of the standings after Jordan followed up their opening draw with Kuwait to defeat Palestine 3-1 in Kuala Lumpur, with Yazan Al-Naimat scoring twice.

Iraq are also on four points having been held to a 0-0 draw by hosts Kuwait despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men following Rebin Sulaka‘s seventh minute sending off.

In Australia’s Group C Saudi Arabia fought back from going behind to an own goal from Ali Lajami in the 14th minute to pick up three points against China in Dalian.

Roberto Mancini’s side were reduced to 10 men when Mohammed Kanno was dismissed for kicking out at Jiang Shenglong but Hassan Kadish headed in Nasser Al-Dawsari‘s corner to level shortly before halftime.

Kadish then decided the game with a powerful 90th-minute header after Salem Al-Dawsari had earlier hit the crossbar.

Japan top the Group with maximum points as two goals each from Ayase Ueda and Hidemasa Morita saw Hajime Moriyasu’s side hand their hosts Bahrain a comprehensive 5-0 defeat, with Koki Ogawa completing the scoring in Riffa.

With one point from two games after their goalless draw in Indonesia Australia have much to do to make the top two.

Third and fourth in each of the groups go into a six-nation fourth stage from which two teams qualify automatically and one goes through to an intercontinental play-off for a place in the finals.