SAITAMA, Japan — Japan will be playing at next year’s World Cup, and Syria has a chance to join them. The Japanese qualified for their sixth straight World Cup by beating Asian champion Australia 2-0 on Thursday, while Syria is closing in on its first appearance. But Syria could finish second and qualify directly for next year’s tournament depending on the result of the match between South Korea and Uzbekistan. ——SOUTH KOREA 0, IRAN 0South Korea missed the chance to qualify for a ninth straight World Cup after being held to a 0-0 draw by Iran. South Korea is second in Group A, two points above Syria and Uzbekistan.

Source: National Post August 31, 2017 13:01 UTC