As the two strongest teams in Group A, South Korea and Iran have both clinched their places to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. First place in the group and regional bragging rights are on the line. Iran is in first place with 22 points after seven victories and a tie. With six wins and two draws, South Korea is two points behind the leaders. They are the group's only two unbeaten nations. Only the top two teams in each group earn automatic World Cup places, and Iran and South Korea both secured theirs with plenty of time to spare. The encounter on Thursday will be the penultimate qualifier for both teams. South Korea will play the United Arab Emirates in the final match of the phase in Dubai on Tuesday, while Iran will host Lebanon on the same day. A higher ranking position could also mean a favorable position draw for the World Cup, allowing South Korea to avoid tough matchups. Son Heung-min, the current national team captain and a transcendent talent of Sotuh Korea Republic was a raw 18-year-old who remained glued to the bench the last time South Korea overcame Iran in men's football.In January 2011, South Korea won 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup. Since then, the two Asian rivals have met seven times, with Iran winning the first four games (all by 1-0) before playing South Korea to three straight draws. On Thursday, when South Korea hosts Iran in Seoul for the final round of Asian World Cup qualifying, they will have another chance to beat Iran and is never better moment as Korea looks at the moment very strong, and is playing this game at home, with a chance to overcome rivals on standings. COVID-19 has taken a toll on both teams, but Iran has been dealt a heavier blow with its leading scorers, FC Porto's Mehdi Taremi and Feyenoord's Alireza Jahanbakhsh, both on the mend. Seven of Iran's 13 goals have come from these two. Due to COVID-19 infections, South Korea has changed four players, none of whom would have been considered for a starting role against Iran. Korea drew 1-1 in Tehran against an Iran team that included Taremi and Alireza (who scored the goal), so they should be able to make a good match and even better result at home without those two in the side of Iran. Serdar Azmoun, Iran's second major forward, has only recently returned from injury, starting only in one game for Leverkusen recently and making a handful of substitute appearances, as he isn't quite match fit yet. Iran will most likely play ultra defensively and try to get a goal from a set piece or something, but will ultimately lose here against in form Korea.

Prediction: Korea to win & under 3.5 goals in the match