Tournament details | |
---|---|
Dates | 5 September 2024 – 10 June 2025 |
Teams | 18 (from 1 confederation) |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 90 |
Goals scored | 231 (2.57 per match) |
Attendance | 2,581,626 (28,685 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | 6 players (5 goals each) |
← 2022 2030→ |
The third round of AFC matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification was played from 5 September 2024 to 10 June 2025. [1]
The 18 teams that advanced from the second round (nine group winners and nine group runners-up) were divided into three groups of six teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top two teams of each group qualified directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams advanced to the fourth round. [2]
The following teams finished first or second in their respective second round groups: [3]
The draw for the third round was held on 27 June 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [3]
The seeding for the draw was based on the FIFA Men's World Rankings on 20 June 2024 (shown in parentheses below). [4]
Each group contained one team from each of the six pots. The draw started with Pot 6 and concluded with Pot 1, with each team drawn being placed in the corresponding position sequentially in Group A, then B, then C. [5]
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 |
---|---|---|
|
| |
Pot 4 | Pot 5 | Pot 6 |
|
|
|
Note: Bold indicates team qualified for the World Cup. Italics indicates the team advanced to the fourth round.
The competition schedule was as follows: [1] [6]
Matchday | Date |
---|---|
Matchday 1 | 5 September 2024 |
Matchday 2 | 10 September 2024 |
Matchday 3 | 10 October 2024 |
Matchday 4 | 15 October 2024 |
Matchday 5 | 14–15 November 2024 |
Matchday 6 | 19 November 2024 |
Matchday 7 | 20 March 2025 |
Matchday 8 | 25 March 2025 |
Matchday 9 | 5 June 2025 |
Matchday 10 | 10 June 2025 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 23 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 21 | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||
3 | ![]() | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 15 | Fourth round | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 5–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | |
4 | ![]() | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 13 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 5–1 | ||
5 | ![]() | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 18 | −6 | 8 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–0 | ||
6 | ![]() | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 21 | −12 | 3 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — |
Iran ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
North Korea ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Kyrgyzstan ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
United Arab Emirates ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Qatar ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Iran ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
North Korea ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Qatar ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
United Arab Emirates ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Kyrgyzstan ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Iran ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
North Korea ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Qatar ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
North Korea ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Uzbekistan ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Kyrgyzstan ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Iran ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 7 | +13 | 22 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 16 | 0–2 | — | 0–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | ||
3 | ![]() | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 15 | Fourth round | 0–2 | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | |
4 | ![]() | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 11 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–1 | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | ||
5 | ![]() | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 10 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | ||
6 | ![]() | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 20 | −13 | 5 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | — |
Iraq ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Jordan ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Palestine ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Oman ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Kuwait ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Jordan ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Oman ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Iraq ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
South Korea ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Palestine ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Kuwait ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Palestine ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Oman ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Kuwait ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
South Korea ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Iraq ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) | Nasser ![]() |
Jordan ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) | Seyam ![]() |
South Korea ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Palestine ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Kuwait ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Oman ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) | Olwan ![]() |
Iraq ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Kuwait ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
South Korea ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Jordan ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Palestine ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 3 | +27 | 23 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | 6–0 | 7–0 | 2–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 7 | +9 | 19 | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | ||
3 | ![]() | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 13 | Fourth round | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | |
4 | ![]() | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 20 | −11 | 12 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||
5 | ![]() | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | −13 | 9 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | ||
6 | ![]() | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 16 | −11 | 6 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | — |
Saudi Arabia ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
China ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Australia ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Bahrain ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
China ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Australia ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Bahrain ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
China ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Indonesia ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Bahrain ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Australia ![]() | 5–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
China ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Indonesia ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Australia ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
China ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
There were 231 goals scored in 90 matches, for an average of 2.57 goals per match.
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal
A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following infractions: [16]
The following suspensions were served during the third round:
Team | Player | Infraction(s) | Suspended for match(es) |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Craig Goodwin | ![]() ![]() | vs Saudi Arabia (14 November 2024) |
Kusini Yengi | ![]() | vs Indonesia (10 September 2024) vs China (10 October 2024) | |
![]() | Waleed Al Hayam | ![]() | vs Australia (19 November 2024) |
Abdulla Al-Khulasi | ![]() ![]() | vs China (14 November 2024) | |
Amine Benaddi | ![]() ![]() | vs Indonesia (25 March 2025) | |
Ali Madan | ![]() ![]() | vs Saudi Arabia (5 June 2025) | |
![]() | Behram Abduweli | ![]() ![]() | vs Japan (19 November 2024) |
Lin Liangming | ![]() ![]() | vs Australia (25 March 2025) vs Indonesia (5 June 2025) | |
Wang Shangyuan | ![]() ![]() | vs Australia (25 March 2025) | |
Wei Shihao | ![]() ![]() | vs Bahrain (10 June 2025) | |
Xie Wenneng | ![]() ![]() | vs Bahrain (14 November 2024) | |
![]() ![]() | vs Indonesia (5 June 2025) | ||
![]() | Marselino Ferdinan | ![]() ![]() | vs China (5 June 2025) |
Justin Hubner | ![]() ![]() | vs Saudi Arabia (5 September 2024) | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | vs Australia (20 March 2025) | ||
Ivar Jenner | ![]() ![]() | vs Japan (14 November 2024) | |
![]() ![]() | vs Japan (10 June 2025) | ||
Ragnar Oratmangoen | ![]() ![]() | vs Australia (20 March 2025) | |
Maarten Paes | ![]() ![]() | vs China (5 June 2025) | |
![]() | Saman Ghoddos | ![]() ![]() | vs Qatar (15 October 2024) |
Saleh Hardani | ![]() | vs Qatar (15 October 2024) vs North Korea (14 November 2024) | |
Shojae Khalilzadeh | ![]() | vs Kyrgyzstan (19 November 2024) | |
Milad Mohammadi | ![]() ![]() ![]() | vs North Korea (10 June 2025) | |
Mohammad Mohebi | ![]() ![]() | vs Uzbekistan (25 March 2025) | |
![]() | Ali Al-Hamadi | ![]() | vs Jordan (10 June 2025) |
Amjad Attwan | ![]() ![]() | vs Kuwait (20 March 2025) | |
Merchas Doski | ![]() ![]() | vs Palestine (25 March 2025) | |
Aymen Hussein | ![]() ![]() | vs South Korea (5 June 2025) | |
Mustafa Saadoon | ![]() ![]() | vs Oman (19 November 2024) | |
Rebin Sulaka | ![]() | vs Palestine (10 October 2024) | |
![]() | Mahmoud Al-Mardi | ![]() ![]() | vs Oman (5 June 2025) |
Nizar Al-Rashdan | ![]() ![]() | vs Oman (5 June 2025) | |
![]() | Ahmed Al-Dhefiri | ![]() ![]() | vs South Korea (14 November 2024) |
Muath Al-Enezi | ![]() ![]() | vs Jordan (19 November 2024) | |
Sultan Al-Enezi | ![]() ![]() | vs Palestine (5 June 2025) | |
Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli | ![]() | vs Oman (25 March 2025) vs Palestine (5 June 2025) vs South Korea (10 June 2025) | |
Sami Al-Sanea | ![]() ![]() | vs Jordan (19 November 2024) | |
Yousef Nasser | ![]() ![]() | vs Oman (25 March 2025) | |
![]() | Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov | ![]() ![]() | vs Qatar (25 May 2025) |
Said Datsiev | ![]() | vs Qatar (25 May 2025) | |
Ermek Kenzhebayev | ![]() ![]() | vs Uzbekistan (20 May 2025) | |
Alimardon Shukurov | ![]() ![]() | vs North Korea (5 June 2025) | |
![]() | Jang Kuk-chol | ![]() | vs United Arab Emirates (10 October 2024) |
Jong Hwi-nam | ![]() ![]() | vs Kyrgyzstan (5 June 2025) | |
Kim Kuk-jin | ![]() ![]() | vs Kyrgyzstan (5 June 2025) | |
Kim Pom-hyok | ![]() ![]() | vs Kyrgyzstan (15 October 2024) | |
Ri Il-song | ![]() ![]() | vs Iran (14 November 2024) | |
Ri Jo-guk | ![]() ![]() | vs United Arab Emirates (25 March 2025) | |
![]() | Arshad Al-Alawi | ![]() ![]() | vs South Korea (10 September 2024) |
Ali Al-Busaidi | ![]() ![]() | vs Palestine (10 June 2025) | |
Muhsen Al-Ghassani | ![]() ![]() | vs Jordan (5 June 2025) | |
Amjad Al-Harthi | ![]() ![]() | vs Palestine (14 November 2024) | |
Harib Al-Saadi | ![]() ![]() | vs South Korea (20 March 2025) | |
![]() | Hamed Hamdan | ![]() ![]() | vs Kuwait (5 June 2025) |
Oday Kharoub | ![]() ![]() | vs Jordan (20 March 2025) | |
Ameed Mahajna | ![]() ![]() | vs Jordan (20 March 2025) | |
Camilo Saldaña | ![]() ![]() ![]() | vs Oman (14 November 2024) | |
Tamer Seyam | ![]() ![]() | vs Oman (14 November 2024) | |
Michel Termanini | ![]() ![]() | vs Kuwait (15 October 2024) | |
![]() | Almoez Ali | ![]() ![]() | vs North Korea (20 March 2025) |
Ahmed Al-Rawi | ![]() ![]() | vs United Arab Emirates (5 September 2024) | |
Ahmed Fathy | ![]() ![]() | vs Uzbekistan (10 June 2025) | |
Lucas Mendes | ![]() | vs Iran (5 June 2025) vs Uzbekistan (10 June 2025) | |
Tarek Salman | ![]() ![]() | vs Kyrgyzstan (10 October 2024) | |
![]() | Saud Abdulhamid | ![]() ![]() | vs Bahrain (15 October 2024) |
Nasser Al-Dawsari | ![]() ![]() | vs Indonesia (5 September 2024) | |
Mohamed Kanno | ![]() ![]() | vs Japan (10 October 2024) vs Bahrain (15 October 2024) vs Australia (14 November 2024) | |
![]() | Moon Seon-min | ![]() ![]() | vs Kuwait (10 June 2025) |
Park Yong-woo | ![]() ![]() | vs Kuwait (10 June 2025) | |
![]() | Kouame Autonne | ![]() ![]() | vs Uzbekistan (15 October 2024) |
Abdulla Hamad | ![]() | vs Kyrgyzstan (14 November 2024) vs Qatar (19 November 2024) | |
Marcus Meloni | ![]() ![]() | vs Iran (20 March 2025) | |
Majid Rashid | ![]() ![]() | vs Qatar (5 September 2024) | |
![]() ![]() | vs Iran (20 March 2025) | ||
![]() | Rustam Ashurmatov | ![]() ![]() | vs United Arab Emirates (15 October 2024) |
Umar Eshmurodov | ![]() | vs Kyrgyzstan (20 March 2025) | |
Jaloliddin Masharipov | ![]() ![]() | vs Iran (25 March 2025) |
Our man in Tokyo says both teams requested a delay to the kick-off and were rejected by the Asian Football Confederation. That's pretty ordinary, and there are a few alternative words as well— Socceroos team bus set out at 4:37pm from Bunkyo and arrived in Saitama 6:46pm – Two hours and nine minutes. JFA and FA requested a delay to kickoff but AFC declined— Joey Lynch
[photos of Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo]
By Car: Urawa interchange - 10 minutes, Iwatsuki interchange - 15 minutes, Tokyo Station - 40 minutes, Haneda Airport - 50 minutes