2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round

Last updated
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round
Tournament details
Dates5 September 2024 – 10 June 2025
Teams18 (from 1 confederation)
2022
2030

The third round of AFC matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will be played from 5 September 2024 to 10 June 2025. [1]

Contents

Format

The eighteen teams that advance from the second round (nine group winners and nine group runners-up) will be divided into three groups of six teams. The teams will play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top two teams of each group will qualify directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams will advance to the fourth round. [2]

Qualified teams

The following teams finished first or second in their respective second round groups:

Schedule

The competition schedule is expected to be as follows: [1]

MatchdayDate
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

Groups

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

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References

  1. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2024 – Jun 2025)" (PDF). AFC. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  2. "Asia's pathway to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 confirmed". AFC. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2024.