The coach of the Tajikistan national team, the Croatian Peter Siegert, revealed his expectations for the qualifiers for the group stage in the 2026 World Cup currently being held in America, Mexico and Canada, presenting a comprehensive technical vision for the teams nominated for direct qualification to the knockout rounds, in addition to the teams that he believes will pass through the gate of the best third-place finishers, including the teams of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Siegert told Emirates Al-Youm: “I expect positive signs for a number of participating Arab teams, and I nominate Morocco for direct qualification from their group, while the teams of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan will be alongside Uzbekistan, Ecuador, Senegal, America, and Canada, which will pass to the elimination rounds through the gate of the best third-place finishers.”
Siegert, who achieved the most notable surprises with the Tajikistan national team in the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, when he succeeded in reaching the quarter-finals, added: “In the first group, I believe that the Mexican national team will top the standings ahead of South Korea, and the Czech Republic and South Africa will be eliminated from the direct qualification race. As for the second group, I believe that it will witness the superiority of the Swiss national team, followed by the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, while the Canadian and Qatari national teams will not qualify for the next round.”
In the third group, Siegert gave preference to the Brazilian national team to take the lead, and said: “(Samba) first, and the Moroccan national team will accompany it to the next round, in a possible new achievement for the (Atlas Lions), while I expect Scotland and Haiti to occupy third and fourth places.”
He continued: “With regard to the fourth group, I expect Turkey and Paraguay to qualify directly at the expense of America and Australia, in one of the groups that may witness strong competition for entry tickets. In the fifth group, I expect a surprise represented by the Ivory Coast national team topping the group against Germany, while the Ecuador national team comes in third place, and Curacao in fourth place.” He continued: “Group Six will witness Japan continuing its remarkable development on the international scene by finishing the first round in first place, followed by the Netherlands, while the Tunisian team will achieve fourth place behind Sweden. In Group Seven, I nominate Belgium and Iran for direct qualification, while the Egyptian team occupies third place ahead of New Zealand, while (the Pharaohs) will get one of the best three cards.”
Regarding the eighth group, Siegert said: “Spain will lead against Uruguay, while the Saudi team will finish third, a position that will qualify it to the next round. In the ninth group, the preference will go to France and Norway for direct qualification, while I expect the Senegalese team to occupy third place, ahead of Iraq. As for Group 10, I nominate Argentina to top the group against Austria, while I nominate Jordan to obtain a ticket from third place, then Algeria, which will finish fourth.”
He concluded: “In Group 11, Portugal will take the lead, followed by Colombia, while Uzbekistan will qualify from third place against Congo, and Group 12 will see England and Croatia qualify directly, at the expense of Ghana and Panama.”
• Siegert nominates Ivory Coast to lead Group E against Germany.
