Syria played DPR Korea in the FIFA World Cup 26™ / AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Preliminary Joint Qualification on 6 June, losing 0-1 after a late goal in additional time. Although they currently sit second in Group B, they are just one point clear of third-placed DPR Korea and are in danger of being eliminated from the second round unless they win their away game against Japan on 11 June.

The first leg against Japan came after the team started the qualifier with a 1-0 win over DPR Korea. In a “home game” held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, they lost 0-5 after conceding the opener to KUBO Takefusa in the 32nd minute and a brace to UEDA Ayase. The day before the match, Argentine coach Hector CUPER had expressed his enthusiasm, saying he would do his best to prepare tactics to stop Japan, but the match ended in a complete defeat.

In January this year, they took part in their seventh AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, where they finished among the top four third-placed teams in the group stage to reach the knockout stage for the first time. They played IR Iran in the round of 16 and lost 3-5 on penalties after the score was level at 1-1 after 120 minutes of play. Nevertheless, coach Cuper was pleased with his side's performance, saying, “We showed our quality against some strong opposition.” In March of the same year, they were again involved in the second round of World Cup qualifying, and although they drew 1-1 away to Myanmar, they won the return leg 7-0 against the same opponents to retain second in the group.

Syria, who are seeking to qualify for their first ever FIFA World Cup™, have come close to qualifying for the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico™ and 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. They went neck-and-neck with Iraq in the final round of the AFC qualifiers, only to fall just short in the former, and lose to Australia in the playoffs in the latter.

Despite holding their own against the Asian giants, Syria's domestic instability has prevented them from playing their home games in their own country, forcing them to use alternative venues in neighbouring countries. The team's strength lies in their solid defence, which also serves as a launching pad for their fierce counter-attacks. Omar Al SOMAH, once the top scorer in the Saudi Arabian league, is the talisman who leads their attack. They will be looking to put up a tough fight in the away game against Japan and will be keen to make amends for last year's defeat.

Syria National Team

Coach

HECTOR RAUL CUPER PISTELLI

Squad

GK
AHMAD MADANIEH (Al-Faisaly/Jordan)
ELIAS HADAYA (Utsiktens BK/Sweden)
ESTEBAN ALEJANDRO GLELLEL (Quilmes/Argentina)
MAKSIM SARRAF (FK Andijon/Uzbekistan)

DF
THAER KROUMA (Mumbai City/India)
MOAIAD ALKHOULI (Al-Jaish)
MOUAIAD ALAJAAN (Al-Jaish)
AMRO JENIAT (Al-Wahda)
AMR AL MIDANI (Al-Nasr/Kuwait)
MOHAMMAD ANEZ (Al-Riffa/Bahrain)
EMILIANO JAVIER AMOR (Colo-Colo/Chile)
KHALED KOURDOGHLI (Al-Wehdat/Jordan)
AMPNTOUL RACHMAN OUES (Athens Kallithea/Greece)

MF
FAHAD YOUSSEF (Al-Shorta/Iraq)
IBRAHIM HESAR (Foolad/IR Iran)
EZEQUIEL NAIM HAM (Independiente Rivadavia/Argentina)
JALIL JUAN JOSE ELIAS (Johor Darul Ta'zim/Malaysia)
ELMAR ABRAHAM (Skovde AIK/Sweden)
AMMAR RAMADAN (DAC 1904/Slovakia)

FW
OMAR ALSOMA (Al-Arabi/Qatar)
ALAA ALDIN YASIN DALI (Naft Maysan/Iraq)
MOHAMMAD ALHALLAK (Al Ahed/Lebanon)
ANTONIO TINO LUCAS YAKOUB (Gefle IF/Sweden)
TOBIAS ARIEL CERVERA CADI (Rosario Central/Argentina)

Results of last 10 matches
(H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral ground, ○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

※Home matches for the FIFA World Cup 26™ / AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Preliminary Joint Qualification were held in Saudi Arabia

Record against Japan

2 draws, 10 losses (9 goals, 32 against)

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: None
※Achieved its independence from France in 1946

1950　Withdrawn during the qualifier
1954　Did not participate
1958　Eliminated in the qualifier
1962　Did not participate
1966　Did not participate
1970　Did not participate
1974　Eliminated in the qualifier
1978　Eliminated in the qualifier
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Eliminated in the qualifier
1990　Eliminated in the qualifier
1994　Eliminated in the qualifier
1998　Eliminated in the qualifier
2002　Eliminated in the qualifier
2006　Eliminated in the qualifier
2010　Eliminated in the qualifier
2014　Disqualified during the qualifier
2018　Eliminated in the qualifier
2022　Eliminated in the qualifier

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