Iran vs Hong Kong Match Analysis and Prediction

IR Iran vs Hong Kong, China Match Analysis & Prediction

IR Iran

16/11/2023 5:30 pm

Hong Kong, China

by Vincent

2 weeks ago 0 28

DISCLAIMER: All odds are quoted at time the prediction went live. Check the sports book for updated odds

IR Iran will kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign when they take on Hong Kong, China in Thursday’s encounter at Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

Goals Over 3.5: Yes

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Handicap Iran (-3.5): Yes

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Team Melli are looking to reach a fourth successive finals, while the visitors will have to pull of a number of surprise results if they are to qualify for the first time.

After making their first World Cup appearance in 1978, Iran have gone on to reach the finals on five more occasions, including each of the last three tournaments.

In their most recent appearance at football’s biggest tournament, Iran suffered defeats to England and the United States either side of a 2-0 victory over Wales.

The single victory proved to be insuficient, as Iran finished in third place, extending their wait for a first-ever knockout round appearance at a World Cup.

They hope to change that statistic in 2026, but they firstly must successfully navigate their way through qualifying, beginning in the second-round stage with a group featuring Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong.

Due to their recent success in World Cup qualifying, Iran will be overwhelming favourites to finish top of Group E, especially as they are yet to lose under Amir Ghalenoei, who has won seven and drawn one of his eight matches in charge.

While Iran are just beginning their journey to the 2026 World Cup, Hong Kong’s qualifying campaign began in August with a first-round playoff tie against Bhutan.

They produced a dominant display in the first leg to claim a 4-0 victory, with all four goals coming in a 25-minute spell through a Michael Udebuluzor brace, a Shinishi Chan strike and an own goal.

Bhutan threatened to pull off a comeback in the return leg when they took a 2-0 lead by the 47th minute, but Jorn Andersen’s side held firm for the remainder of the game to claim a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Having lost five of their last six away matches in World Cup qualifying, Hong Kong will have to produce a huge performance to trouble Iran on Thursday.

IR Iran vs. Hong Kong, China Head to head

Iran have won each of the three previous encounters between these two teams, scoring seven goals while conceding two.

03/12/2006

Hong Kong, China

1

IR Iran

2

Asian Games
10/09/2019

Hong Kong, China

0

IR Iran

2

AFC World Cup Qualifiers
03/06/2021

IR Iran

3

Hong Kong, China

1

AFC World Cup Qualifiers
16/11/2023

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
16/11/2023

IR Iran

N/A

Hong Kong, China

N/A

AFC World Cup Qualifiers

IR Iran Team News

Experienced defender Ehsan Hajsafi will captaing his national team, and he could be joined in the back four by Ramin Rezaeian, Shoja Khalilzadeh and Hossein Kanaani.

FC Porto forward Mehdi Taremi is expected to start here, and he will be looking to add to the 39 goals he has scored for his country.

IR Iran's Last 5 Matches

20/06/2023

Uzbekistan

0

IR Iran

1

CAFA Nations Cup
07/09/2023

Bulgaria

0

IR Iran

1

Friendlies
12/09/2023

IR Iran

4

Angola

0

Friendlies
13/10/2023

Jordan

1

IR Iran

3

Friendlies
17/10/2023

Qatar

0

IR Iran

4

Friendlies

Hong Kong, China Team News

Michael Udebuluzor, who plays for German club Ingolstadt, is the only current member of the Hong Kong squad to play his domestic football outside Asia.

Having scored two goals in his three international appearance, he is expected to lead the line for the visitors, while the width could be provided by Law Tsz Chun and Matt Orr.