Kuala Lumpur: Asia’s 2018 FIFA World Cup hopefuls learned their fate on Tuesday when the draw for the second round draw of continental qualifiers was held in the Malaysian capital.
Some 40 sides were placed in eight groups of five teams each for the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Team Melli was drawn in group “D” along with Oman, Turkmenistan and Guam
The Draw:
Group A: 1. UAE 2. Saudi Arabia 3. Palestine 4. Timor-Leste 5. Malaysia
Group B: 1. Australia 2. Jordan 3. Tajikistan 4. Kyrgyzstan 5. Bangladesh
Group C: 1. China 2. Qatar 3. Maldives 4. Bhutan 5. Hong Kong
Group D: 1. Iran 2. Oman 3. India 4. Turkmenistan 5. Guam
Group E: 1. Japan 2. Syria 3. Afghanistan 4. Singapore 5. Cambodia
Group F: 1. Iraq 2. Vietnam 3. Thailand 4. Indonesia 5. Chinese Taipei
Group G: 1. Korea Republic 2. Kuwait 3. Lebanon 4. Myanmar 5. Laos
Group H: 1. Uzbekistan 2. Bahrain 3. Philippines 4. DPR Korea 5. Yemen
What Next:
The teams will compete according to a double round robin format, and the Round 2 qualification matches will be held from June 11, 2015 to March 29, 2016.
The group winners and four best runners-up (total 12 teams) will advance to the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
Fixture Schedule:
GROUP ‘D’
| Matchday 1 – June 11, 2015 | India vs. Oman |
| Guam vs. Turkmenistan | |
| Matchday 2 – June 16, 2015 | Turkmenistan vs. Iran |
| Guam vs. India | |
| Matchday 3 – September 3, 2015 | Iran vs. Guam |
| Oman vs. Turkmenistan | |
| Matchday 4 – September 8, 2015 | Guam vs. Oman |
| India vs. Iran | |
| Matchday 5 – October 8, 2015 | Turkmenistan vs. India |
| Oman vs. Iran | |
| Matchday 6 – October 13, 2015 | Oman vs. India |
| Turkmenistan vs. Guam | |
| Matchday 7 – November 12, 2015 | Iran vs. Turkmenistan |
| India vs. Guam | |
| Matchday 8 – November 17, 2015 | Guam vs. Iran |
| Turkmenistan vs. Oman | |
| Matchday 9 – March 24, 2016 | Oman vs. Guam |
| Iran vs. India | |
| Matchday 10 – March 29, 2016 | India vs. Turkmenistan |
| Iran vs. Oman |