Eight teams had already booked their spots in the last round which kicks-off in September. Regional powers Australia, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran were through, along with Bahrain, North Korea and Uzbekistan.

Reigning Asian champion Iraq will play its Group One home match against Qatar in Dubai, with the teams level on points. Iraq’s superior goal difference means it needs only a draw to progress, while even a one-goal win to Qatar will see it go through.

In Group Five, Syria needs to win away at the United Arab Emirates by a three-goal margin, otherwise the UAE will progress.

Iraq’s World Cup ambitions looked finished at the end of May when it had collected just one point from the first three games of Group One and was suspended from international competition by FIFA. A late reprieve from FIFA and successive wins on the field had put the Desert Foxes in prime position to progress.

"We are not thinking of a draw even though we know we can go through if the scores are level." Iraq coach Adnan Hamad said. "It is our dream to go to the World Cup. We want to do it for the country. Football is the only thing that can bring Iraq together."

Qatar lost 3-1 at home to Australia in its most recent qualifier, leaving it needing to beat Iraq.

"We still have a chance to qualify," Qatar’s coach Jorge Fossati told reporters. "If we beat Iraq, we will do it, so I trust my players to deliver. Actually, I am confident that we will beat Iraq and qualify for the next stage."

The United Arab Emirates had only conceded four goals in five third-round matches, suggesting Syria stood little chance of gaining the requisite three-goal win, but the Gulf side was taking nothing for granted.

"We know our chances but there is no way we will play to achieve a tie because that will distract our concentration in the match," UAE captain Abdul Rahim Juma said.

The doubts in Group Three were not about which teams would progress, but whether Sunday’s final match between South and North Korea — which are technically still at war — would go ahead.

North Korea officials had demanded that the game against South Korea in Seoul be held in a neutral country or the southern resort island of Jeju.

South Korea authorities refused their neighbors’ demand and North Korea was due to arrive in Seoul later Thursday for only its fourth match on southern soil in six years.

"North Korea is very defensive," said South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo, observing the North’s record of not conceding a single goal while only scoring four in five round-three matches. "I will try to use players that haven’t played in previous matches."

Manchester United star Park Ji-sung was doubtful with a knee injury.

For most South Korean fans it will be the first opportunity to watch the man dubbed "The People’s Rooney" - North Korea’s star striker Jong Tae Se.

Jong, born to southern parents in Japan, is keen to score at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium.

"I am ready to show what I can do in Seoul," Jong said. "We are looking to win."

For the rest of the qualified teams, Sunday’s matches represent the chance to experiment with untried players and to settle old scores.

In Group Two, Japan wants revenge against Bahrain for a 1-0 defeat inflicted in March.

"I will never forget the way we lost that away leg in Bahrain," Japan coach Takeshi Okada said. "Our pride is at stake in this game."

Of the other already qualified teams, Uzbekistan will become the only nation to complete a perfect third-round record if it wins away at Saudi Arabia in Group Four. Australia hosts China in Sydney and Iran hosts Kuwait.