CHINA will meet South Korea in the final Asian round of 2018 World Cup qualifying, according to a draw in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

    Group A was headlined by consistent qualifier South Korea and Asia’s top-ranked team Iran, which both represented the continent at the last World Cup in Brazil along with Australia and Japan.

    China, which has qualified for just one World Cup in 2002 and scraped through to this round, was also pooled in Group A alongside three sides which have yet to reach a finals — war-wracked Syria, 2022 host Qatar and Uzbekistan.

    Continental champion Australia was pooled in a formidable Group B with Saudi Arabia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates in the draw for the final Asian round of 2018 World Cup qualifying made in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

    Joining the quartet in the six-nation group, where only the top two sides are guaranteed of a place at the finals in Russia, were 2007 Asian champion Iraq and fast-improving Thailand.

    The group stages will conclude in September 2017.

    Australia starts it campaign on Sept. 1 with a home clash against Iraq while South Korea opens against China.  (SD-Agencies)