AFC - Favourites Iran had to be content with a 1-1 draw with hosts Turkmenistan in their 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying opening match at Sport Toplumy Stadium on Tuesday.

Iran got the lead as early as the 4th minute through Sardar Azmoun but Ruslan Mingazov managed to equalise two minutes in the first-half stoppage time to force sharing of spoils.

The game was Turkmenistan’s second after bowing down 1-0 to surprise package Guam thanks to an own goal in their campaign opener five days earlier. The Turkmenistan’s next opponents will be Oman on September 3.

Iran will play Guam in their second match on the same day.

The participating teams will compete according to a double round robin format, with the Round 2 qualification matches being held between June 11, 2015 and March 29, 2016.

The group winners and four best runners-up (total 12 teams) will advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals and the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The next best 24 teams from the preliminary stage of the joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition for the remaining slots (12 slots or 11 slots + 1 slot for the host) in the 24-team 2019 Asian Cup.