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Arab Teams Gear Up for 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup Journey
Last year will be one that lives long in the memory of Arabic football, as Morocco defied all expectations to reach the final four of the 2022 World Cup. It was also a pivotal moment in the history of Arabian football, as the competition was held in Qatar. However, football is a sport that never stands still, and there will now be sights set on the future and how national sides from the continent can continue to outperform their favorable odds available at arabwinners, home to the best sports betting sites in the Middle East. But what does the qualifying campaign look like for Arabic teams looking to reach the 2026 World Cup?
Seedings Revealed For Qualification
The seedings for the qualification process to determine the nations representing the confederation at the 2026 World Cup were released last week. The teams ranked higher than the top nations will begin their qualification campaign in the opening two rounds.
These matches will also hold extra significance, as they will be used to determine the sides that will compete in the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. Matches in the opening round will be played in October, with the ten matches being played across two legs.
How Qualifying Works
The ten teams that land victory in their ties in the opening round will then proceed through to the second round of qualifying. In this stage, the remaining 26 teams will enter the qualification tournament. These second-round matches will then determine the 36 nations that will reach the next stage of qualifying. This round is played in a round-robin format, with four teams in each of the nine groups.
Each nation will play at home and away against the teams in their respective groups, with the top two from each proceeding through to the third round of qualification for the World Cup. Furthermore, the teams that finish in the top two will secure their places at the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be staged in Saudi Arabia.
Matchups In First Round
Many of the outsiders for World Cup qualification will compete in the first round in mid-October. Afghanistan will compete against Mongolia, while Bangladesh will have home-field advantage for their return tie against the Maldives. There are also tricky opening-round matchups for Singapore, Yemen, and Macau as they come up against Guam, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, respectively. Pakistan against Cambodia appears to be one of the standout ties in the first round, while Chinese Taipei will collide against Timor-Leste.
Brunei will face a challenging assignment against Indonesia, while Hong Kong will be favored to overcome Bhutan. The final first-round clash will see Nepal and Laos collide.
Nations That Enter In Second Round
The second round is the most competitive of World Cup qualification, and it will also determine the nations that will be competing in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup in 2027. The draw for the group stage has already been made, and there will be some competitive fixtures for fans to look ahead to. Qatar will be looking to reach their second straight World Cup after hosting the 2022 tournament, but they will likely face competition from India and Kuwait for a place in the top two.
Japan enjoyed an excellent run at the 2022 World Cup and will be heavily favored to progress from group B, as they are pitted against North Korea and Syria. South Korea appears to be in one of the more testing groups, as they will need to overcome Thailand and China to reach the third round of qualification.
Oman, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia will play in Group D, as the two nations will cause a shock and potentially plot their route to a first-ever appearance at the World Cup. Iran will be favored in Group E, while it could be challenging to overlook Iraq and Vietnam qualifying from Group F.
Saudi Arabia will be the favorite to reach the third round from Group G, while UAE and Bahrain will compete for the top spot in Group H. Australia will play in Group I as the national side looks to avoid a shock elimination at the hands of Palestine and Lebanon.
Conclusion
The road to the World Cup is mapped out for national sides in the AFC region, and it promises to be a fascinating battle between the top teams to secure their spot. All national teams will have their sights set on a dream appearance at the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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BOS presents initiative against money laundering
Money laundering is a threat in all sectors of society where money is present, including the gambling sector. The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) is therefore today presenting two initiatives related to money laundering.
Firstly, BOS presents an AML (Anti Money Laundering) checklist with bullet points that BOS recommends that online gambling companies on the Swedish gambling market follow. The purpose is to reach the highest possible standard in the work against money laundering, in regards to authorities and society in general.
Secondly, BOS presents in collaboration with the consulting agency Advisense a report on money laundering and the Swedish online gambling market. The report is based on interviews with BOS member companies and contains concrete proposals for improved AML work in the gambling sector, for gambling companies as well as banks and authorities. For example, with inspiration taken from the banking sector, the establishment of a Swedish Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Task Force between the gambling industry and the Financial Police is proposed.
“Today we take this comprehensive approach to the problem of money laundering. The purpose is to make visible how the work against money laundering in the gambling industry can be improved. We present our report and checklist completely openly, so that even a gambling company that is not a member of BOS can use the material, if they so wish. We all win from that.”, says Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General, The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling.
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mkodo and Future Anthem announce AI, Data and Mobile App Partnership
This collaboration will combine mkodo’s market-leading product suite with Amplifier AI to deliver real-time, player-centric innovation
mkodo, the leading provider of mobile apps, websites, front-end UX and geolocation technology to the regulated iGaming, Sports Betting and Lottery markets, has announced a strategic partnership with Future Anthem, the pioneering AI and data science powerhouse. Together, the companies will explore AI-driven real-time personalisation across every stage of the player journey.
This partnership brings together Amplifier AI, Future Anthem’s all-in-one personalisation product, with mkodo’s renowned product suite, aiming to elevate player experiences and expand both companies’ presence in the regulated Canadian market and the global WLA (World Lottery Association) landscape.
Leigh Nissim, CEO of Future Anthem, commented, “This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to deliver unmatched, AI-powered personalisation for the gaming industry. Both companies bring complementary skills and technologies combined with deep industry knowledge, creating a powerful opportunity to generate meaningful experiences for our clients and their players.”
Will Whitehead, Commercial Director at mkodo, added, “This collaboration reflects mkodo’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation. Our shared proactive approach enables us to make rapid improvements that deliver immediate value to our clients, enhancing player engagement and delighting players with personalised experiences.”
The collaboration is set to bring best-in-class technology to meet the rising demand for AI-driven, player-focused experiences, helping operators win the race to real-time personalisation.
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Relax Gaming skates into action with the launch of Winter Champions
Relax Gaming, the leading iGaming aggregator and content provider, is taking players on an exhilarating snowy adventure with the launch of Winter Champions, a sports-themed slot that propels players through the mountain tops in pursuit of golden victories.
At the heart of Winter Champions is the innovative Sliding Respins mechanic, ensuring the reels remain active as long as winning combinations continue to land, adding a layer of non-stop excitement to the gameplay.
With a maximum win potential of 6,000x the player’s bet, this dynamic slot is designed to captivate both sports fans and slot enthusiasts alike.
The game’s standout features are its three thrilling bonus rounds—Ski Jumping, Ice Hockey, and Curling—triggered when three Wild symbols are on the reels at the same time.
In the Ski Jumping Bonus, each Rolling Respin brings players closer to the top prize, with Wilds boosting rewards by up to 5x. The Ice Hockey Bonus sees players collect pucks and score goals to multiply their values, while the Curling Bonus offers the challenge of stacking stones to unlock reel-filling multipliers.
Designed with stunning visuals and a festive atmosphere, Winter Champions is set to become a go-to for players looking for dynamic gameplay and the potential for big wins.
Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming, said: “We are excited to introduce Winter Champions, a slot that truly captures the excitement and competitive spirit of winter sports. The Sliding Respins mechanic adds dynamic gameplay, while the three unique bonus games ensure there’s something for everyone.”
“We believe this game will deliver hours of fun and plenty of big-win potential for players that will continue beyond the winter season.”
Established as one of the industry’s leading B2B suppliers, Relax Gaming was awarded GGA’s Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots. Money Train 3 was named the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards amongst its 6 Slot of the Year titles, while the brand also won the award for Skill Games Supplier at the 2023 EGR B2B Awards along with the Innovation in Mobile award at the 2023 SBC Awards.
Relax Gaming provides more than 4,000 online casino games, from its high-performing proprietary slots to a significant, varied library of content from hand-picked third-party studios via its partnership programmes.
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