Japan to play FIFA World Cup away qualification matches against Afghanistan and Syria in neural venues

Japan are set to play their opening two away FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in neutral venues ©Getty Images

Japan are set to play two of their away 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches at neutral venues due to the continuing unstable climate in Afghanistan and Syria, it has been announced.

The record four-time winners of the Asian Cup were drawn to compete in Group E, alongside Afghanistan, Cambodia, Singapore and Syria, in the second phase of Asian qualification for the 2018 tournament.

With the Japanese Foreign Ministry advising against travel to Afghanistan and Syria, neutral venues for Japan’s away ties against those nations have been arranged.

They are now set to face Afghanistan in the Azadi Stadium, which is located in Iran’s capital Tehran on September 8.

Oman will play host for Japan’s tie against Syria exactly one month later, although a venue for the game has yet to be confirmed.

Bosnian Vahid Halilhodžić took over as coach of the Japan's men's national team in March ©Getty Images

Japan are due to begin their qualification campaign with home matches against Singapore and Cambodia on June 16 and September 3 respectively.

The Saitama Stadium, a football venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is set to stage both home ties as Japan target a sixth consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals.

Japan will also hope to bounce back from a disappointing campaign at the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia, where despite winning all three group matches they suffered a shock defeat on penalties to the United Arab Emirates.

They will begin World Cup qualification under new coach Vahid Halilhodžić, who coached his home nation Bosnia to their first World Cup in 2014, after he was unveiled in March.

By topping the group, Japan would ensure qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, in addition to advancing to the third round stage of the World Cup qualification campaign.

The third round would consist of two groups of six teams, with the top two nations advancing directly to the World Cup, while the third placed teams in each group would be forced to play a two-legged tie for the right to advance to an inter-continental play-off round.

South Korea and Australia, who compete in the Asian qualification system, would be considered the favourites alongside Japan and Iran to advance automatically to the 2018 World Cup.