United States vs Morocco
SWANSEA, WALES – NOVEMBER 12: Yunus Musah of United States of America during the international friendly match between Wales and the USA at Liberty Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Two teams with the World Cup very much in their sights go head-to-head at TQL Stadium.
In their last game, the United States, finally, got the monkey off their back, qualifying for the World Cup having dramatically missed Russia 2018.
Gregg Berhalter’s side accumulated 25 points from 14 qualifiers, finishing third in the Octagonal, below Canada and Mexico.
Now, this is the start of a four-game window for the U.S. who’ll face Uruguay in a friendly followed by Nations League fixtures against Grenada and El Salvador.
Having lifted both the Nations League and Gold Cup trophies last summer, the Stars and Stripes will head to Qatar in November with renewed optimism.
Here, USA will face African opposition for the first time since July 2017 when they took on Ghana in Connecticut.
This time, Morocco are visiting Cincinnati and they too are preparing for a World cup return.
The Atlas Lions beat DR Congo 5-2 on aggregate in March’s play-offs, so are back at the World Cup for the first time since France ’98.
Earlier this year, Vahid Halilhodžić’s team reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations before falling to neighbours and rivals Egypt.
Coming up this month, Morocco face a pair of AFCON qualifiers, welcoming South Africa to Rabat before an away game in Liberia.
So, this one is tough to call, but the U.S. will be looking to make home advantage count in Ohio.
Australia vs Jordan
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 27: Tom Rogic celebrates with Martin Boyle after scoring a goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 AFC Asian Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Vietnam at AAMI Park on January 27, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Australia will hope this is the first of three internationals this June with at least one, possibly two, crucial games to come this month.
Back in March, the Socceroos missed out on automatic World Cup qualification following a last-gasp 2-0 defeat to Japan in Sydney.
But, Graham Arnold’s team do have a second chance as his country seek to qualify for a fifth consecutive World Cup.
On 7 June, Australia will take on United Arab Emirates in Al Rayyan in the fourth round of AFC qualification.
The winners of this will then face Peru in an inter-confederation play-off six days later. with a place at the World Cup on the line.
Thus, this friendly is the Socceroos’ final chance to fine-tune before two, potentially, massive games.
Opponents Jordan meanwhile were eliminated from World Cup qualifying by Australia way back in the second round in June last year.
So, the Chivalrous will not be making their World Cup debut later this year, and now must focus on qualifying for a fifth Asia Cup.
Next week, Adnan Hamad’s team will face Nepal, Indonesia and Kuwait in qualifiers, needing to top this group to guarantee qualification.
So, both have plenty to play for in the near future but, before then, Australia will fancy their chances of victory in this friendly at Al-Janoub Stadium.
Malta vs Venezuela
BARINAS, VENEZUELA – JANUARY 28: Salomón Rondón celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during a match between Venezuela and Bolivia as part of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers at Agustin Tovar Stadium on January 28, 2022 in Barinas, Venezuela. (Photo by Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)
To nations, struggling to find their feat in their respective continents, meet in a friendly in Ta’ Qali.
Venezuela are the only nation from the CONMEBOL region who have never qualified for a World Cup.
This year concluded their 14th attempt with la Vinotinto finishing bottom of the table, amassing just ten points from 18 fixtures.
Overall, Venezuela have only won nine of their last 52 competitive fixtures, dating back to September 2013.
So now, their focus turns towards Copa América 2024, with José Pékerman’s men meeting Saudi Arabia in a friendly in Murcia later this month.
Having said all of that, Venezuela are big favourites to win this particular game, given that Malta are classic international football minnows.
The Reds have only won four of their last 56 competitive games, beating only Cyprus, Andorra, Latvia and Faroe Islands in the last nine years.
So, Devis Mangia’s team find themselves in UEFA Nations League D, the bottom-tier, with games against San Marino and Estonia to come.
Thus, Venezuela will surely enjoy a rare away win at Grawnd Nazzjonali.
