Maldives drawn against Iran in 2014 FIFA World Cup

Maldives has been drawn against Iran in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying round 2 match. Iran, who has competed on World football’s biggest stage on three previous occasions and three-time Asian champions, hammered 26-0 over two legs in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers. Maldives were beaten 17 -0 in the match played in Syria, Damascus and 9 -0 in the match played in Iran.

Maldives met Iran in 2000 as well. In the first leg, Iran managed to beat Maldives by 8 -0 and in Tehran they won the match by 3 – 0.

The first leg of the round will be played on July 23rd and the return leg will be played on 28th of July 2011.

The 15 winners from the second round will join the top five direct entrants (Japan, Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Australia and Bahrain) in the third round where they will be divided into five groups of four teams each.

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil – Asian Qualifiers

Round 1
Malaysia v Chinese Taipei
Bangladesh v Pakistan
Cambodia v Laos
Sri Lanka v Philippines
Afghanistan v Palestine
Vietnam v Macau
Nepal v Timor Leste
Mongolia v Myanmar

First leg, June 29
Second leg, July 3

Round 2
Thailand v Afghanistan or Palestine
Lebanon v Bangladesh or Pakistan
China v Cambodia or Laos
Turkmenistan v Indonesia
Kuwait v Sri Lanka or Philippines
Oman v Mongolia or Myanmar
Saudi Arabia v Hong Kong
Iran v Maldives
Syria v Tajikistan
Qatar v Vietnam or Macau
Iraq v Yemen
Singapore v Malaysia or Chinese Taipei
Uzbekistan v Kyrgyzstan
UAE v India
Jordan v Nepal or Timor Leste

First leg, July 23
Second leg, July 28

Round 3
September 2, September 6, October 11, November 11, November 15, 2011 and February 29, 2012

Round 4
June 3, June 8, June 12, September 11, October 16, November 14, 2012, March 26, June 4, June 11, June 18, 2013

Round 5 (AFC playoff)
September 6 and September 10, 2013

Round 6 (Inter-continental playoff)
October 15 and November 19, 2013 (dates to be confirmed by FIFA)