Historically, this is our second time in the third round of qualifiers. This time we will face Syria, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Iran.

We have faced Syria 26 times before, winning only 4 times. This is the first time we will face each other in a World Cup qualifier.

Iraq will also be in our group. We faced each other 17 times and won only once. This will also be our first World Cup qualifier encounter.

Against the UAE, we won once out of 11 matches. In the final round of the 2014 qualifiers, both teams traded wins at home.

The recurrent match-up is against South Korea. Just like for the 2014 qualifiers, we will have faced them 4 times in these qualifiers. Overall, 12 of our 13 games were played in World Cup qualifiers; our only win came in the famous 2-1 victory in Beirut in 2011.

The last team in our group is Iran. Lebanon and Team Melli, met each other 10 times, 2 of which in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. We only won once.

When do the games take place?

Matchday 1 – 2 September 2021: UAE vs Lebanon
Matchday 2 – 7 September 2021: Lebanon vs South Korea
Matchday 3 – 7 October 2021: Iraq vs Lebanon
Matchday 4 – 12 October 2021: Syria vs Lebanon
Matchday 5 – 11 November 2021: Lebanon vs Iran
Matchday 6 – 16 November 2021: Lebanon vs UAE
Matchday 7 – 27 January 2022: South Korea vs Lebanon
Matchday 8 – 1 February 2022: Lebanon vs Iraq
Matchday 9 – 24 March 2022: Lebanon vs Syria
Matchday 10 – 29 March 2022: Iran vs Lebanon

The third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers is scheduled to start on September 2, 2021.

However, sources within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have revealed to Iraqi journalist Ali Nouri that the AFC is thinking of postponing the third round of qualifiers to March. In this case, the games could be played in one central venue for each group.

In 1993, the 1994 World Cup qualifiers were split in two, home games played in a central venue and away games at another stadium. No idea yet on whether the round will be reduced to just one leg or not.

To advance to the 2021 Arab Nations Cup, Lebanon must win Djibouti on June 23 at Khalifa International Stadium, one of the stadiums of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The game is not inside the FIFA International window. Therefore Lebanon knew that they will missJoan Oumari, Rabih Ataya, Bassel Jradi and Georges Felix Melki due to club duties.

Lately, we’ve known that Al Wehdat and Amanat Baghdad have called up upon Soony Saad and Mohammad Kdouh respectively. Hassan Chaito “Moni” will also miss the qualifier match as he can’t be 100% fit before the game.

The absentees have scored every goal for Lebanon in 2020 and 2021. The last goal scored by a called up player to the squad is on 15 October 2019 vs Sri Lanka.

In order to replace them, Jamal Taha will count on the returning Hassan Maatouk and Ahmad Hijazi and new comers Hassan Mehanna and Haidar Khreiss.

Officially, Lebanon has qualified to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The 18th edition will be held in China from 16 June to 16 July. The direct qualification means that the Cedars will be placed in Pot 1 or Pot 2. In the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Lebanon were placed in Pot 3.

Lebanon advance to the third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. How does the third round work?

• Two groups of six teams
• The first two teams in each group will qualify for the World Cup.
• The two third-placed teams will face each other in a single match. Then the winner will advance to the inter-continental playoffs.

The draw will take place on 1 July.

Each group contains one team from each of the six pots. The six pots are based on May FIFA Rankings:
Pot 1: Japan / Iran
Pot 2: South Korea / Australia
Pot 3: Saudi Arabia / Iraq
Pot 4: UAE / China
Pot 5: Oman / Syria
Pot 6: Vietnam / Lebanon

The first game will be played on September 2.

After today’s results, the runners-up ranking is as follows:

Every team will play on Tuesday except of Oman and Lebanon

1. Oman 12 points (+4).
2. China. 10 points (+11)
3. Lebanon. 10 points (+3).
4. Uzbekistan. 9 points (+6)
5. UAE. 9 points (+ 5)
6. Iran. 9 points (+ 6)
7. Jordan. 8 points (+5)
8. Kyrgyzstan. 4 points (-3)

Lebanon will need then to have a better ranking than two other teams.

2 of the 4 following game results will be enough for Lebanon:

• Australia to win or draw against Jordan.
• Saudi Arabia to win against Uzbekistan
• Vietnam to win against UAE
• Iraq to win against Iran

We already secured not to be passed by Kyrgyzstan or Tajikstan (due to goal difference). The games will be played on June 15.

In recent years, Lebanon vs South Korea became a fixed fixture. In fact, the two national teams faced each other 7 times in the last 10 years.

The first time both countries met officially was on 16 May 1975, in a 1-0 loss for Lebanon in Seoul, during the 1975 President’s cup. Since then, both teams have met 11 times, all in world cup qualifiers. South Korea won 8 times as 2 other games ended in a draw and a lonely win for Lebanon in 2011.

The last time they met, at Camille Chamoun Stadium, the game ended in a 0-0 draw. This was the first game South Korea failed to score against Lebanon, ending an 11-game scoring streak, in which South Korea scored 22 goals and conceded 4. All the Lebanese goals were scored in Beirut, by Hassan Maatouk (2013), Ali El Saadi (2011), Abbas Atwi (2011) and Ali Nassereddine (2004).

Lebanon has scored in 3 different matches, all of them ended with Lebanon getting at least a point.

The only time South Korea scored more than 3 goals against the Cedars was on 2 September 2011, when they scored 6 goals at Goyang Stadium, the host stadium of tomorrow’s game.

Historically, the numbers are not by our side. But we are writing history everyday, we can turn it around!

When the Lebanese line-up was announced, everyone noticed one name missing. It’s Bassel Jradi.

According to MTV anchor Charbel Krayem, Jradi arrived on a plane where the person next to him was tested COVID-19 positive. The local law enforcers are keeping him in mandatory quarantine.

Since his arrival, the whole expidition was tested several times and all tests returned negative. According to the South Korea health authorities, Jradi has to spend 14 days isolated. That means he returns to his home several days after the qualifiers end.

The Lebanese Football Association is working hard to convince the authorities to loosen the restrictions on Jradi since it’s been several days on his arrival and he is testing negative in several tests.

Lebanon has started their 2022 World Cup qualifiers on 5 September 2019. 639 days later, our national team is looking to continue their qualifying campaign. Even though the results against North Korea will not be taken under consideration, the games are still countable.

Lebanon played 5 games, losing against North Korea(2-0), winning against Turkmenistan (2-1) and Sri Lanka (0-3) and drawing against South Korea (0-0) and North Korea (0-0).

5 Lebanses goals were scored. Hilal el Helwe put 3 balls past the goalkeeper, while Hassan Maatouk and Nader Matar scored one goal each.

Out of these goals, 2 of them were penalties. The other 3 were assisted by Maatouk, Mohammad Haidar and Zein Tahhan.

Nour Mansour, Alexander Melki and Maatouk played the whole 5 games. Only the first two can continue their playing streak.

Mehdi Khalil was able to keep 3 clean sheets out of 4 games. Mostafa Matar replaced him in the first game in Pyongyang.

5 of our players were shown the yellow card. Abdallah Aich, Hilal El Helwe and Melki brothers were cautioned once while Mohammad Haidar earned 3 times the yellow card. No red cards were used against the Cedars.

Those are all the numbers during the first part of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Hopefully, we can add more goals and wins to the list.

Lebanon will meet Sri Lanka on June 5 at 9 am as part of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

New captain

Due to injury of Hassan Maatouk, Nour Mansour has been named captain of the Cedars. He made his debut on 3 March 2010, during the 2011 Asian Cup qualifier 4-0 loss to Syria, when he replaced the injured Ali Hamam in the 16th minute.

Lebanon vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head

This will be the 5th game between the two sides. The Cedars scored 15 goals, by 13 different players, and conceeded 4.

Lebanon have three wins, all in FIFA World Cup Qualification. Sri Lanka were victorious once in the 2009 Nehru Cup.

No Lebanese has scored in two seperate games against Sri Lanka, Hilal El Helwe is the only one able to change that tomorrow.

Sri Lanka’s player to watch

Sri Lanka called-up a new 19-year old winger, Dillion Da Silva, who is currently playing at QPR U-23 team. He didn’t make his first team debut yet.

Referees

The Jordanian Ahmad Yacoub Ibrahim Ibrahim will officiate the game. Ayman Faisal Hamzeh Obeidat (Jordan), Ali Ahmad (Syria) and Khamis Mohammed Al Marri (Qatar) will complete the refereeing line-up.

Jersey Color

Lebanon will wear their traditional red jersey while goalkeeper will be wearing the green top.

Where to watch the game?

The meeting will be broadcasted on MTV, and Al Kass 1. It will also be broadcasted on the Lebanese Football Association YouTube channel.