The top teams in Africa and Asia return to action this week with a slew of games that will be available on US TV and streaming.
Here’s what to watch, when and where:
All times Eastern USA
ASIA –
The 3rd Round of AFC qualifiers continue this International Break with Matchday’s #3 and #4. A reminder, 12 teams are left and are divided into 2 Groups which are playing a full home-and-away series of matches which will be completed in September 2017. The top 2 teams from each group will automatically qualify for Russia 2018 while the 2 third-place nations will play in a home-and-away Playoff match for the right to play the 4th placed nation from CONCACAF’s final series of rounds for a place in the Final.
All matches are scheduled exclusively for ESPN’s streaming service – ESPN3 – which is available via certain internet providers, DirecTV subscriber’s as well as Sling Orange.
Thursday, October 6:
Japan vs. Iraq, 6:35am ET, ESPN3 and Sling Orange (free trial)
China vs. Syria, 7:30am ET, ESPN3 and Sling Orange (free trial)
Saudi Arabia vs. Australia, 1:45pm ET, ESPN3 and Sling Orange (free trial)
Tuesday, October 11:
Australia vs. Japan, 5:00am ET, ESPN3 and Sling Orange (free trial)
Uzbekistan vs. China, 9:00am ET, ESPN3 and Sling Orange (free trial)
Iran vs. South Korea, 9:45am ET, ESPN3 and Sling Orange (free trial)
AFRICA –
The 3rd and final stage of World Cup 2018 Qualifying for the African Confederation begins this weekend. The stage is comprised of 5 Groups of 4 teams who will play a full home-and-away series of matches. Only the 5 winners of each group advance to World Cup 2018 which promises to make this a very exciting stage. beIN SPORTS hold the exclusive rights to the matches in the US.
Here is the schedule for the opening weekend of matches:
Friday, October 7:
Ghana vs. Uganda, 11:30am, beIN SPORTS Connect (#3) and fuboTV (free trial)
Saturday, October 8:
Gabon vs. Morocco, 11am, beIN SPORTS, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial)
DR Congo vs. Libya, 1:30pm, beIN SPORTS Connect (#3) and fuboTV (free trial)
Ivory Coast vs. Mali, 2:00pm, beIN SPORTS, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial)
– Also shown on delay on beIN SPORTS en Español, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial) at 10:00am (next-day/Sunday)
Sunday, October 9:
Zambia vs. Nigeria, 8:30pm, beIN SPORTS Connect (#3), beIN SPORTS (joined in progress at 2:25pm), Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial)
– Also shown on delay on beIN SPORTS en Español, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial) at 12:00pm (same-day)
– Also shown on delay on beIN SPORTS, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial) at 6:00pm (same-day)
Congo vs. Egypt, 10:30am, beIN SPORTS, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial)
Tunisia vs. Guinea, 1:00pm, beIN SPORTS, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial)
Algeria vs. Cameroon, 3:30pm, beIN SPORTS, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial)
Ed Perovic is the publisher of soccertvblog.com – a source for schedules and US TV information for major European Leagues and International competitions.
