2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

Last updated

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
AFC Asian Qualifiers.png
Tournament details
Dates12 October 2023 – November 2025
Teams46 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played91
Goals scored281 (3.09 per match)
Attendance1,510,263 (16,596 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Qatar.svg Almoez Ali
(7 goals)
2022
2030
All statistics correct as of 26 March 2024.

The Asian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for national teams of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). AFC teams have been allocated eight direct qualifying slots and one inter-confederation play-off slot. [1]

Contents

The qualification process involves five rounds; the first two also serving as qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Entrants

All FIFA-affiliated nations entered the joint qualification process for both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup; Northern Mariana Islands, who is not a FIFA member, will enter through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification play-off round. [2]

Format

The qualification format was announced on 1 August 2022, having been revamped to fit the increased finals allocation of eight direct qualifiers and one play-off qualifier: [3]

Draw

The draw for the first and second rounds of joint qualification took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 27 July 2023. [3] [4] The top 26 ranked teams were given byes to the second round, while the 20 teams entering the first round were seeded into two pots of 10 teams each and drawn alternately from pot 1 then pot 2 to form a pairing. The team from pot 1 hosted the first leg and the team from pot 2 hosted the second leg. Pots 1, 2 and 3 for the second round draw contained the teams ranked 1–9, 10–18, and 19–26, respectively, while pot 4 contained placeholders for the ten first round ties. Nine teams were drawn from pot 4 first and placed in position 4 of each group. The tenth team from pot 4 was moved to Pot 3, and subsequently drawn at random from Pot 3. Teams were then drawn into each group sequentially from pots 3, 2, and 1. [3]

From the July 2023 FIFA World Rankings [5]
Bye to second roundCompeting in first round
Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 1Pot 2
  1. Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (20)
  2. Flag of Iran.svg  Iran (22)
  3. Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (27)
  4. Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea (28)
  5. Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia (54)
  6. Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar (59)
  7. Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq (70)
  8. Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates (72)
  9. Flag of Oman.svg  Oman (73)
  1. Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan (74)
  2. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (80)
  3. Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan (82)
  4. Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain (86)
  5. Flag of Syria.svg  Syria (94)
  6. Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam (95)
  7. Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine (96)
  8. Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan (97)
  9. Flag of India.svg  India (99)
  1. Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon (100)
  2. Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan (110)
  3. Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand (113)
  4. Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea (115)
  5. Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines (135)
  6. Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia (136)
  7. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait (137)
  8. Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan (138)
  1. Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong (149)
  2. Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia (150)
  3. Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei (153)
  4. Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives (155)
  5. Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen (156)
  6. Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan (157)
  7. Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore (158)
  8. Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar (160)
  9. Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal (175)
  10. Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia (176)
  1. Flag of Macau.svg  Macau (182)
  2. Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia (183)
  3. Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan (185)
  4. Flag of Laos.svg  Laos (187)
  5. Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh (189)
  6. Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei (190)
  7. Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor (192)
  8. Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan (201)
  9. Flag of Guam.svg  Guam (203)
  10. Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka (204)

Schedule

The competition schedule is expected to be as follows: [6] [7] [8] [2]

RoundMatchdayDate
First round First leg12 October 2023
Second leg17 October 2023
Second round Matchday 116 November 2023
Matchday 221 November 2023
Matchday 321 March 2024
Matchday 426 March 2024
Matchday 56 June 2024
Matchday 611 June 2024
RoundMatchdayDate
Third round Matchday 15 September 2024
Matchday 210 September 2024
Matchday 310 October 2024
Matchday 415 October 2024
Matchday 514 November 2024
Matchday 619 November 2024
Matchday 720 March 2025
Matchday 825 March 2025
Matchday 95 June 2025
Matchday 1010 June 2025
RoundMatchdayDates
Fourth round Matchday 1October 2025
Matchday 2
Matchday 3
Fifth round First legNovember 2025
Second leg

First round

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Afghanistan  Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg2–0Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 1–0 1–0
Maldives  Flag of Maldives.svg2–3Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 1–1 1–2
Singapore  Flag of Singapore.svg3–1Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 2–1 1–0
Yemen  Flag of Yemen.svg4–1Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 3–0 1–1
Myanmar  Flag of Myanmar.svg5–1Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 5–1 0–0
Cambodia  Flag of Cambodia.svg0–1Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 0–0 0–1
Chinese Taipei  Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg7–0Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor 4–0 3–0
Indonesia  Flag of Indonesia.svg12–0Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 6–0 6–0
Hong Kong  Flag of Hong Kong.svg4–2Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 4–0 0–2
Nepal    Flag of Nepal.svg2–1Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 1–1 1–0

Second round

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Qatar.svg Flag of India.svg Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Flag of Kuwait.svg
1Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar (Q)4400162+1412 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 11 Jun 8–1 3–0
2Flag of India.svg  India 41122534 0–3 1–2 6 Jun
3Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan 4112313104 Asian Cup qualifying third round 6 Jun 0–0 0–4
4Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 41035613 1–2 0–1 11 Jun
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Japan.svg Flag of Syria.svg Flag of North Korea.svg Flag of Myanmar.svg
1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (Q)4400140+1412 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 11 Jun 1–0 5–0
2Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 421196+37 0–5 1–0 7–0
3Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 41036603 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 [lower-alpha 1] 6 Jun 11 Jun
4Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 4013219171 6 Jun 1–1 1–6
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
  1. North Korea were originally scheduled to play host to Japan in Kim Il-sung Stadium. However, North Korea then decided against hosting it due to "a malignant infectious disease" spreading in Japan. [9] Due to the time gap and North Korea's inability to provide an alternative venue, FIFA subsequently decided that the match would neither be played nor rescheduled, and the matter was to be decided by FIFA Disciplinary Committee. [10] [11] It was later announced that Japan would be awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit. [12] [13]

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of South Korea.svg Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Flag of Thailand.svg Flag of Singapore.svg
1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 4310121+1110 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 11 Jun 1–1 5–0
2Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 421187+17 0–3 6 Jun 4–1
3Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 41125724 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 1–2 11 Jun
4Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 4013414101 6 Jun 2–2 1–3
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Flag of Oman.svg Flag of Malaysia.svg Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg
1Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 4301115+69 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 1–0 6 Jun 5–1
2Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 430171+69 11 Jun 2–0 3–0
3Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 42025726 Asian Cup qualifying third round 4–3 0–2 11 Jun
4Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei (Q)4004111100 0–2 6 Jun 0–1
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group E

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Iran.svg Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Flag of Hong Kong.svg
1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran (Q)4310122+1010 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 11 Jun 5–0 4–0
2Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan (Q)4310103+710 2–2 6 Jun 3–0
3Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan (Q)401331181 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–1 1–3 11 Jun
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong (Q)401321191 6 Jun 0–2 2–2
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Iraq.svg Flag of Indonesia.svg Flag of Vietnam.svg Flag of the Philippines.svg
1Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq (Q)4400121+1112 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 5–1 11 Jun 1–0
2Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 42116607 6 Jun 1–0 11 Jun
3Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 41032533 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–1 0–3 6 Jun
4Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 40131981 0–5 1–1 0–2
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group G

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Flag of Jordan.svg Flag of Tajikistan.svg Flag of Pakistan.svg
1Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia [lower-alpha 1] 431081+710 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 11 Jun 1–0 4–0
2Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 4211113+87 0–2 6 Jun 7–0
3Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 412184+45 Asian Cup qualifying third round 1–1 1–1 11 Jun
4Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan (Q)4004120190 6 Jun 0–3 1–6
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
  1. Saudi Arabia has already qualified for the Asian Cup as the host nation.

Group H

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Flag of Bahrain.svg Flag of Yemen.svg Flag of Nepal.svg
1Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates (Q)4400111+1012 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 11 Jun 2–1 4–0
2Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 4301102+89 0–2 6 Jun 3–0
3Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 41033743 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 0–2 11 Jun
4Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal (Q)4004014140 6 Jun 0–5 0–2
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group I

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of Palestine.svg Flag of Lebanon.svg Flag of Bangladesh.svg
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (Q)4400150+1512 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup 11 Jun 2–0 7–0
2Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 421161+57 0–1 6 Jun 5–0
3Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 40221872 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–5 0–0 11 Jun
4Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 4013114131 6 Jun 0–1 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Third round

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1A100000000 2026 FIFA World Cup
2A200000000
3A300000000 Fourth round
4A400000000
5A500000000
6A600000000
First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2024. Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1B100000000 2026 FIFA World Cup
2B200000000
3B300000000 Fourth round
4B400000000
5B500000000
6B600000000
First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2024. Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1C100000000 2026 FIFA World Cup
2C200000000
3C300000000 Fourth round
4C400000000
5C500000000
6C600000000
First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2024. Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Fourth round

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1A100000000 2026 FIFA World Cup
2A200000000 Fifth round
3A300000000
First match(es) will be played: October 2025. Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1B100000000 2026 FIFA World Cup
2B200000000 Fifth round
3B300000000
First match(es) will be played: October 2025. Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Fifth round

The two second-placed teams in each group from the fourth round will play against each other over two legs in November 2025 to determine which team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs. [2]

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Nov '25Nov '25

Inter-confederation play-offs

The fifth-round winner will join one team each from CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC and two from CONCACAF in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will meet the two highest-ranked teams in another set of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [14]

Top goalscorers

There have been 281 goals scored in 91 matches, for an average of 3.09 goals per match (as of 26 March 2024). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.

7 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

Below are full goalscorer lists for each round:

See also

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References

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  11. "North Korea-Japan qualifier in Pyongyang canceled by FIFA". AP News. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  12. "Japan awarded 3-0 forfeit win against North Korea". BBC Sport. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  13. "FIFA規律委員会の決定について 3.26 SAMURAI BLUE 対 朝鮮民主主義人民共和国代表(平壌)~FIFAワールドカップ26アジア2次予選 兼 AFCアジアカップサウジアラビア2027予選~". Japan Football Association . 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
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