Introduction to the Match
Kazakhstan will host Liechtenstein at the Astana Arena on Friday in another round of their UEFA 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. The hosts will be desperate to get a result this midweek to keep their hopes of earning a playoff spot alive.
Recent Performance of Teams
Kazakhstan were completely blown out of the water in their last game as they fell to an embarrassing 6-0 defeat against Belgium last time out to mark their fourth loss from five games played in the qualifiers. The Hawks currently sit in fourth place in the group and will need to get at least a point on Thursday and hope results elsewhere favour them to avoid effective elimination from the qualifiers. On the other hand, Liechtenstein are in last place in the group, having failed to pick up a single point from five games so far, most recently suffering a humiliating 5-0 defeat against group leaders Macedonia.
Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The sides have only met once in their history, with their March 2025 meeting ending in a 2-0 victory to Kazakhstan. The hosts have only scored three goals across their five games in the qualifiers. Liechtenstein have the second-worst defensive record in the qualifying campaign, having conceded 19 goals in just five games. The visitors also have the joint-worst offensive record, having failed to register a single goal across those games. Neither team have ever qualified for a FIFA World Cup in their history. The visitors have lost each of their last eight games across all competitions. Kazakhstan are currently ranked 118th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Liechtenstein are ranked 204th.
Prediction
Although the Hawks are in poor form, they remain strong favorites going into Friday’s game due to the difference in squad quality and will only need to avoid complacency to get the win. The Blue-Reds have endured an even worse patch than their weekend opponents in recent games, with their ineffectiveness in front of goal likely to spell more trouble for them on Friday. Prediction: Kazakhstan 2-0 Liechtenstein
Betting Tips
Tip 1 – Result: Kazakhstan to win. Tip 2 – Goals – Over/under 2.5 – Under 2.5 goals (Three of the hosts’ last four competitive games have produced fewer than 2.5 goals). Tip 3 – Both teams to score: No (Both sides have found the back of the net in just one of the visitors’ last 10 matches)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the upcoming match between Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein is expected to be a one-sided affair, with Kazakhstan being the strong favorites to win. Liechtenstein’s poor form and inability to score goals will likely be their downfall in this match. With Kazakhstan needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, they will be motivated to perform well and get the three points. The match is expected to be a low-scoring affair, with Kazakhstan likely to win 2-0.
