The business end of the Qatar World Cup 2022 group phase starts today (day 10). Four qualified teams for the Round of 16 from Groups A and B will be confirmed after Tuesday’s fixtures. However, all eyes will be on the Iran vs USA match today due to political tensions between the two countries.

Group A

The Netherlands vs Qatar match will take place at the Al Bayt Stadium, while the Senegal vs Ecuador game will be played at the Khalifa International Stadium. Both matches will kick off at 9 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).

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Netherlands vs Qatar

The Dutch team is in better condition than the other teams in Group A.They can even reach the Round of 16 phase even without winning this fixture, depending on the outcome of the Ecuador vs Senegal game. However, the Netherlands will undoubtedly look to dominate against the host Qatar and finish first in the group phase points standings.

Qatar, on the other hand, have nothing to lose as they are already out of the tournament. Therefore, the Qatari side will play with no extra pressure. They will look to finish their first World Cup tournament by defeating the Netherlands.Qatar can certainly dream of defeating the Dutch side with plenty of support from the local crowd.

Senegal vs Ecuador

This contest will probably be decided by the second-placed team in Group A. Senegal and Ecuador have both shown enough potential to reach the knockout round. Now they have come to a point where this game will act as a tiebreaker.

Ecuador currently hold the second position with 4 points. They only need to draw the match against Senegal to advance to the next round. But if Ecuador lose this fixture and the Netherlands draws against Qatar, they will be out of the competition. So, the South American team will likely play with a bit of a cautious approach.

Senegal, on the other hand, need to win the fixture against Ecuador in its quest for a Round of 16 berth. However, they can still advance by drawing this match. But in that case, the Netherlands would have to lose heavily against Qatar, which is highly unlikely.

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Group B

The Iran vs USA match will take place at the Al Thumama Stadium, while the England vs Wales match will be held at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Both the fixtures will kick off at 1 a.m. Wednesday (Bangladesh Standard Time).

Iran vs USA

The United States vs Iran match is so politically driven that it is expected to be a tough battle between the two sides. The USA have shown enough fighting spirit in this tournament, while Iran made a strong comeback against Wales after a 6-2 demolition by England.

Besides, the fixture between the USA and Iran will also be important in the quest for a Round of 16 berth. The winner of this match will move on to the knockout round. The Iranian side, however, is in a better position than the USA, as they are currently in second place with 3 points. The USA are in third place with 2 points. Iran can move to the next phase by drawing the match.

Iran, therefore, will likely play with a defensive mindset and try to frustrate the USA side. But the United States of America have no other choice but to win the contest. Overall, this fixture promises to be an exciting affair to witness, whether it's for sporting or political reasons.

England vs Wales

England and Wales, two teams from the United Kingdom, will face each other today as well. This is going to be an interesting contest to watch. Both sides will be aiming to outshine each other. However, given the strength of the two teams, England will likely overcome the fixture with ease and finish the group in top position.

England’s qualification for the Round of 16 is all but confirmed. They will have no extra pressure to deal with. But Gareth Southgate's side will surely be up for the No. 1 position in Group B. So, they won’t take this contest lightly.

Wales, on the other side, have no choice but to win in order to secure a place in the Round of 16. Having said that, Wales will also have to rely on the outcome of the Iran vs USA match, as they expect this contest to end in a draw.

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Aftermath

All four matches on FIFA World Cup 2022 Day 10 are crucial and will determine the qualified teams for Round 16. However, fans in general will pay special attention to the USA vs Iran match, which is viewed as a politically charged contest.