The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Fifa World Cup 2026: Hong Kong relish underdog status in Iran’s qualifying group after humbling by minnows Bhutan

Hong Kong reach next stage of qualifying, but only after a second-leg defeat to Bhutan in which boss Jorn Andersen says his side were ‘outfought and outworked’

Head coach insists city’s national team can upset Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in group stage

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Hong Kong’s Michael Udebuluzor (in red) scored twice at home to Bhutan, but his side struggled in the second leg. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 2:48pm, 18 Oct 2023Updated: 2:52pm, 18 Oct 2023

Jorn Andersen suggested it will suit his Hong Kong team to be underdogs in their Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifying group after they earned their place in spite of Tuesday’s humbling by lowly Bhutan.

The head coach admitted his side had been “outfought and outworked” on a chastening night in the Himalayan country, when they were beaten 2-0 in the second of two legs in their first-round play-off.

Hong Kong advanced to the group stage 4-2 on aggregate, but the loss to a team 36 places below them at 184 out of 207 in Fifa’s world rankings left Andersen happy for his side to resume the status of long shots. They will face Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan – ranked 21, 75 and 140 respectively – in Group E.

“We are the underdog, like Bhutan [were], and we can fight to create some surprises,” he said.

It is back to the drawing board for head coach Jorn Andersen after a sluggish display in Bhutan. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong looked in serious danger of paying for spurning chances in last week’s 4-0 first-leg victory when they conceded a second goal shortly after half-time in Thimphu.