Tournament details | |
---|---|
Dates | 12 October 2023 – 18 November 2025 |
Teams | 46 (from 1 confederation) |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 145 |
Goals scored | 427 (2.94 per match) |
Attendance | 2,818,195 (19,436 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | Ayase Ueda Almoez Ali Son Heung-min (8 goals each) |
AFC Asian Qualifiers |
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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]
The qualification process involves five rounds; the first two also serving as qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
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, would have entered through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification play-off round. [2] However, the AFC excluded Northern Mariana Islands from the draw for the play-off round. [3]
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: [4] [5]
The draw for the first and second rounds of joint qualification took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 27 July 2023. [5] [6] 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. [5]
Bye to second round | Competing in first round | |||
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Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 1 | Pot 2 |
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The competition schedule is expected to be as follows: [8] [9] [10] [2]
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Note: Bolded teams qualified for the second round of World Cup qualifying.
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 2–0 | Mongolia | 1–0 | 1–0 |
Maldives | 2–3 | Bangladesh | 1–1 | 1–2 |
Singapore | 3–1 | Guam | 2–1 | 1–0 |
Yemen | 4–1 | Sri Lanka | 3–0 | 1–1 |
Myanmar | 5–1 | Macau | 5–1 | 0–0 |
Cambodia | 0–1 | Pakistan | 0–0 | 0–1 |
Chinese Taipei | 7–0 | East Timor | 4–0 | 3–0 |
Indonesia | 12–0 | Brunei | 6–0 | 6–0 |
Hong Kong | 4–2 | Bhutan | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Nepal | 2–1 | Laos | 1–1 | 1–0 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Qatar | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 | +15 | 16 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | 8–1 | |
2 | Kuwait | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 1–2 | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | ||
3 | India | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 5 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 0–0 | — | 1–2 | |
4 | Afghanistan | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 5 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 0–0 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Japan | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | +24 | 18 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–0 | 5–0 | 5–0 | |
2 | North Korea | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 9 | 0–3 [lower-alpha 1] | — | 1–0 | 4–1 | ||
3 | Syria | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 7 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–5 | 1–0 | — | 7–0 | |
4 | Myanmar | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 28 | −25 | 1 | 0–5 | 1–6 | 1–1 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | South Korea | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | +19 | 16 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | |
2 | China | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 [lower-alpha 1] | 0–3 | — | 1–1 | 4–1 | ||
3 | Thailand | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 [lower-alpha 1] | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | |
4 | Singapore | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 24 | −19 | 1 | 0–7 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oman | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 13 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | |
2 | Kyrgyzstan | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 11 | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | 5–1 | ||
3 | Malaysia | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 10 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–2 | 4–3 | — | 3–1 | |
4 | Chinese Taipei | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 17 | −15 | 0 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Iran | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 4 | +12 | 14 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 0–0 | 5–0 | 4–0 | |
2 | Uzbekistan | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 14 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | ||
3 | Turkmenistan | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 2 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–0 | |
4 | Hong Kong | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 15 | −11 | 2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Iraq | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | +15 | 18 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 5–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | |
2 | Indonesia | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0–2 | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | ||
3 | Vietnam | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 6 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–1 | 0–3 | — | 3–2 | |
4 | Philippines | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jordan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 4 | +12 | 13 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 0–2 | 3–0 | 7–0 | |
2 | Saudi Arabia [lower-alpha 1] | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 13 | World Cup qualifying third round | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | |
3 | Tajikistan | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 8 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–0 | |
4 | Pakistan | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26 | −25 | 0 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–6 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United Arab Emirates | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 16 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | |
2 | Bahrain | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 11 | 0–2 | — | 0–0 | 3–0 | ||
3 | Yemen | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 5 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | |
4 | Nepal | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 20 | −18 | 1 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Australia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | +22 | 18 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 5–0 | 2–0 | 7–0 | |
2 | Palestine | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0–1 | — | 0–0 | 5–0 | ||
3 | Lebanon | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–5 | 0–0 | — | 4–0 | |
4 | Bangladesh | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 20 | −19 | 1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Uzbekistan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 10 Oct | 15 Oct | 1–0 | 10 Jun | 20 Mar | |
2 | Iran | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 6 | 25 Mar | — | 20 Mar | 10 Jun | 15 Oct | 1–0 | ||
3 | United Arab Emirates | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 | Fourth round | 5 Jun | 0–1 | — | 10 Oct | 19 Nov | 14 Nov | |
4 | North Korea | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 1 | 19 Nov | 14 Nov | 25 Mar | — | 2–2 | 5 Jun | ||
5 | Qatar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 1 | 14 Nov | 5 Jun | 1–3 | 20 Mar | — | 10 Oct | ||
6 | Kyrgyzstan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0 | 2–3 | 19 Nov | 10 Jun | 15 Oct | 25 Mar | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jordan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 10 Oct | 10 Jun | 1–1 | 20 Mar | 15 Oct | |
2 | South Korea | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 4 | 25 Mar | — | 15 Oct | 10 Jun | 0–0 | 20 Mar | ||
3 | Iraq | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 | Fourth round | 14 Nov | 5 Jun | — | 20 Mar | 10 Oct | 1–0 | |
4 | Kuwait | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 19 Nov | 14 Nov | 0–0 | — | 5 Jun | 25 Mar | ||
5 | Palestine | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 1 | 1–3 | 19 Nov | 25 Mar | 15 Oct | — | 10 Jun | ||
6 | Oman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 | 5 Jun | 1–3 | 19 Nov | 10 Oct | 14 Nov | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | +12 | 6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 25 Mar | 20 Mar | 10 Jun | 15 Oct | 7–0 | |
2 | Saudi Arabia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | 10 Oct | — | 15 Oct | 1–1 | 10 Jun | 20 Mar | ||
3 | Bahrain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 3 | Fourth round | 0–5 | 5 Jun | — | 10 Oct | 19 Nov | 14 Nov | |
4 | Indonesia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 Nov | 19 Nov | 25 Mar | — | 0–0 | 5 Jun | ||
5 | Australia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 1 | 5 Jun | 14 Nov | 0–1 | 20 Mar | — | 10 Oct | ||
6 | China | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 0 | 19 Nov | 1–2 | 10 Jun | 15 Oct | 25 Mar | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | A1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
2 | A2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fifth round |
3 | A3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | B1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
2 | B2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fifth round |
3 | B3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fourth round group runner-up | Fourth round group runner-up | 13 Nov '25 | 18 Nov '25 |
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. [11]
There have been 427 goals scored in 145 matches, for an average of 2.94 goals per match (as of 10 September 2024). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.
8 goals
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
Below are full goalscorer lists for each round:
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