SEOUL, South Korea (AP) On a night of big games in Asia, Japan will be under the most pressure as a defeat to Syria in their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday would cast doubt on its chances of making it to Russia.
Only the eight group winners in the second round of Asian qualification are assured of a place in the third and last stage, where they will be joined by the four best second-placed finishers.
Syria has been ordered to play the game in Oman due to the political situation at home. Syria, yet to appear at a World Cup, tops the group with a maximum of nine points from three games, two ahead of Japan.