World Cup Qualifying
FIFA Region
AFC
Season
2026
Location
Asia/Australia
Abbreviation
AFC
Summary
6 June 2019, all 46 FIFA affiliated national teams from AFC (Asian Football Confederation) started qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. Seedings (2023 AFC Seedings table) for the first 2 qualification rounds were based on FIFA World Rankings (July 2023).
More Info...
2023 AFC Seedings
Country | FIFA Rank | afc Rank |
---|
Japan | 20 | 1 |
Iran | 21 | 2 |
Australia | 27 | 3 |
Korea Republic | 28 | 4 |
Saudi Arabia | 54 | 5 |
Qatar | 59 | 6 |
Iraq | 70 | 7 |
United Arab Emirates | 72 | 8 |
Oman | 73 | 9 |
Uzbekistan | 74 | 10 |
China PR | 80 | 11 |
Jordan | 82 | 12 |
Bahrain | 86 | 13 |
Syria | 94 | 14 |
Vietnam | 95 | 15 |
Palestine | 96 | 16 |
Kyrgyzstan | 97 | 17 |
India | 99 | 18 |
Lebanon | 100 | 19 |
Tajikistan | 110 | 20 |
Thailand | 113 | 21 |
Korea DPR | 115 | 22 |
Philippines | 135 | 23 |
Malaysia | 136 | 24 |
Kuwait | 137 | 25 |
Turkmenistan | 138 | 26 |
Hong Kong | 149 | 27 |
Indonesia | 150 | 28 |
Chinese Taipei | 153 | 29 |
Maldives | 155 | 30 |
Yemen | 156 | 31 |
Afghanistan | 157 | 32 |
Singapore | 158 | 33 |
Myanmar | 160 | 34 |
Nepal | 175 | 35 |
Cambodia | 176 | 36 |
Macau | 182 | 37 |
Mongolia | 183 | 38 |
Bhutan | 185 | 39 |
Laos | 187 | 40 |
Bangladesh | 189 | 41 |
Brunei | 190 | 42 |
Timor-Leste | 192 | 43 |
Pakistan | 201 | 44 |
Guam | 203 | 45 |
Sri Lanka | 204 | 46 |
Competition Structure
Stage | # Teams | New Teams Entering This Round | Teams From Previous Round | Format |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st Round | 20 | national teams ranked 27-46 in AFC | 10 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances | |
2nd Round | 36 | national teams ranked 1-26 in AFC | 10 winners from 1st Round | 9 groups of 4 with Home/Away matches against each team in group, each group winner (win = 3 pts, draw = 1 pt) and 2nd place team advance to the 3rd Round |
3rd Round | 24 | 9 group winners, six 2nd place teams, and 6 best 3rd place teams from 2nd Round | 3 groups of 6 with Home/Away matches against each team in group, 1st and 2nd place team in each group (win = 3 pts, draw = 1 pt) qualifies for 2026 World Cup, 3rd and 4th place teams in each group advance to the 4th Round | |
4th Round | 6 | 3rd and 4th place teams from each 3rd Round group | 2 groups of 3 with Home/Away matches against each team in group, 1st place team in each group (win = 3 pts, draw = 1 pt) qualifies for 2026 World Cup, 2nd place teams in each group advance to the 5th Round | |
5th Round | 2 | 2nd place teams from each 4th Round group | Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances to the FIFA Inter-Confederation Playoff |
2nd Round
Group A | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | Qatar | 4 | 4 -0-0 | 12 | - | 16 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
2 | India | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | - | 2 | 5 | -3 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
3 | Afghanistan | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | - | 3 | 13 | -10 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 |
4 | Kuwait | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | - | 5 | 6 | -1 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
16.11.23 | Qatar | 81 | Afghanistan | Khalifa International Stadium |
Afghanistan | 04 | Kuwait | Abdullah Al Dabil Stadium |
Afghanistan | Qatar | Ghazi Stadium |
Kuwait | Afghanistan | Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium |
Group B | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | Japan | 4 | 4 -0-0 | 12 | - | 14 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
2 | Syria | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | - | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
3 | Korea DPR | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | - | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
4 | Myanmar | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | - | 2 | 19 | -17 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | -12 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
Group C | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | Korea Republic | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | - | 12 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
2 | China PR | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | - | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
3 | Thailand | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | - | 5 | 7 | -2 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
4 | Singapore | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | - | 4 | 14 | -10 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | -8 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
16.11.23 | Korea Republic | 50 | Singapore | Sangam Stadium |
21.11.23 | China PR | 03 | Korea Republic | Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre Stadium |
21.03.24 | Korea Republic | 11 | Thailand | Sangam Stadium |
06.06.24 | Singapore | Korea Republic | National Stadium (Singapore) |
10.06.24 | Korea Republic | China PR | Sangam Stadium |
Group D | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | Kyrgyz Republic | 4 | 3 -0-1 | 9 | - | 11 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
2 | Oman | 4 | 3 -0-1 | 9 | - | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
3 | Malaysia | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | - | 5 | 7 | -2 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
4 | Chinese Taipei | 4 | 0 -0-4 | 0 | - | 1 | 11 | -10 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | -7 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
16.11.23 | Malaysia | 43 | Kyrgyz Republic | Bukit Jalil National Stadium |
Oman | 30 | Chinese Taipei | Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex |
21.11.23 | Chinese Taipei | 01 | Malaysia | Taipei Municipal Stadium |
Kyrgyz Republic | 10 | Oman | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
21.03.24 | Chinese Taipei | 02 | Kyrgyz Republic | Nanzih Football Stadium |
05.06.24 | Kyrgyz Republic | Malaysia | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
Chinese Taipei | Oman | Taipei Municipal Stadium |
10.06.24 | Oman | Kyrgyz Republic | Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex |
Malaysia | Chinese Taipei | Bukit Jalil National Stadium |
Group E | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | Iran | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | - | 12 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
2 | Uzbekistan | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | - | 10 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
3 | Turkmenistan | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | - | 3 | 11 | -8 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | -5 |
4 | Hong Kong | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | - | 2 | 11 | -9 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -7 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
16.11.23 | Turkmenistan | 13 | Uzbekistan | Ashgabat Stadium |
21.11.23 | Hong Kong | 22 | Turkmenistan | Hong Kong Stadium |
Uzbekistan | 22 | Iran | Milliy Stadion |
21.03.24 | Hong Kong | 02 | Uzbekistan | Mong Kok Stadium |
05.06.24 | Uzbekistan | Turkmenistan | Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium |
10.06.24 | Iran | Uzbekistan | Azadi Stadium |
Turkmenistan | Hong Kong | Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy Adyndaky Olimpiýa Stadiony |
Group F | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | Iraq | 4 | 4 -0-0 | 12 | - | 12 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
2 | Indonesia | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | - | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -1 |
3 | Vietnam | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | - | 2 | 5 | -3 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
4 | Philippines | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | - | 1 | 9 | -8 | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
16.11.23 | Philippines | 02 | Vietnam | Rizal Memorial Track & Football Stadium |
21.11.23 | Philippines | 11 | Indonesia | Rizal Memorial Track & Football Stadium |
05.06.24 | Vietnam | Philippines | My Dinh National Stadium |
Indonesia | Philippines | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium |
Group G | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | Saudi Arabia | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | - | 8 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
2 | Jordan | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | - | 11 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
3 | Tajikistan | 4 | 1 -2-1 | 5 | - | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 -2-0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
4 | Pakistan | 4 | 0 -0-4 | 0 | - | 1 | 20 | -19 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | -11 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
16.11.23 | Tajikistan | 11 | Jordan | Pamir Stadium |
Saudi Arabia | 40 | Pakistan | Abdullah Al Dabil Stadium |
21.11.23 | Pakistan | 16 | Tajikistan | Jinnah Sports Stadium |
Jordan | 02 | Saudi Arabia | Amman International Stadium |
05.06.24 | Jordan | Tajikistan | Amman International Stadium |
Pakistan | Saudi Arabia | Punjab Stadium |
10.06.24 | Saudi Arabia | Jordan | King Fahd International Stadium |
Tajikistan | Pakistan | Pamir Stadium |
Group H | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | United Arab Emirates | 4 | 4 -0-0 | 12 | - | 11 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
2 | Bahrain | 4 | 3 -0-1 | 9 | - | 10 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
3 | Yemen | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | - | 3 | 7 | -4 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
4 | Nepal | 4 | 0 -0-4 | 0 | - | 0 | 14 | -14 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -7 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -7 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
16.11.23 | United Arab Emirates | 40 | Nepal | Al-Maktoum Stadium |
Bahrain | 02 | United Arab Emirates | Bahrain National Stadium |
05.06.24 | Nepal | United Arab Emirates | Dasarath Rangasala Stadium |
10.06.24 | United Arab Emirates | Bahrain | Zayed Sports City Stadium |
Group I | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
1 | Australia | 4 | 4 -0-0 | 12 | - | 15 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
2 | Palestine | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | - | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
3 | Lebanon | 4 | 0 -2-2 | 2 | - | 1 | 8 | -7 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
4 | Bangladesh | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | - | 1 | 14 | -13 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | -12 |
3rd Round, 2027 ASIACUP 2027 ASIACUP 3rd Qual |
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
16.11.23 | Australia | 70 | Bangladesh | AAMI Park |
21.11.23 | Bangladesh | 11 | Lebanon | Bashundhara Kings Arena |
Bangladesh | Australia | Bangabandhu National Stadium |
Lebanon | Bangladesh | Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium |
1st Round
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
Aggregate | Myanmar | 51 | Macau |
Aggregate | Maldives | 23 | Bangladesh |
12.10.23 | Maldives | 11 | Bangladesh | National Football Stadium (MDV) |
17.10.23 | Bangladesh | 21 | Maldives | Bashundhara Kings Arena |
Aggregate | Chinese Taipei | 70 | Timor-Leste |
12.10.23 | Chinese Taipei | 40 | Timor-Leste | Kaohsiung National Stadium |
17.10.23 | Timor-Leste | 03 | Chinese Taipei | Kaohsiung National Stadium |
Aggregate | Singapore | 31 | Guam |
Aggregate | Nepal | 21 | Laos |
Aggregate | Cambodia | 01 | Pakistan |
Aggregate | Indonesia | 120 | Brunei |
Aggregate | Hong Kong | 42 | Bhutan |
Aggregate | Afghanistan | 20 | Mongolia |
12.10.23 | Afghanistan | 10 | Mongolia | Pamir Stadium |
17.10.23 | Mongolia | 01 | Afghanistan | MFF Football Centre |
Aggregate | Yemen | 41 | Sri Lanka |