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 |  | 81 | Afghanistan | Khalifa International Stadium |
| 04 | Kuwait | Abdullah Al Dabil Stadium |
| Qatar | Ghazi Stadium |
| 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 |  | 50 | Singapore | Sangam Stadium |
| 21.11.23 |  | 03 | Korea Republic | Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre Stadium |
| 21.03.24 | | 11 | Thailand | Sangam Stadium |
| 06.06.24 | | Korea Republic | National Stadium (Singapore) |
| 10.06.24 | | 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 |  | 43 | Kyrgyz Republic | Bukit Jalil National Stadium |
 | 30 | Chinese Taipei | Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex |
| 21.11.23 | | 01 | Malaysia | Taipei Municipal Stadium |
| 10 | Oman | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
| 21.03.24 | | 02 | Kyrgyz Republic | Nanzih Football Stadium |
| 05.06.24 | | Malaysia | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
| Oman | Taipei Municipal Stadium |
| 10.06.24 | | Kyrgyz Republic | Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex |
| 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 |  | 13 | Uzbekistan | Ashgabat Stadium |
| 21.11.23 |  | 22 | Turkmenistan | Hong Kong Stadium |
| 22 | Iran | Milliy Stadion |
| 21.03.24 | | 02 | Uzbekistan | Mong Kok Stadium |
| 05.06.24 | | Turkmenistan | Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium |
| 10.06.24 | | Uzbekistan | Azadi Stadium |
| 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 |  | 02 | Vietnam | Rizal Memorial Track & Football Stadium |
| 21.11.23 | | 11 | Indonesia | Rizal Memorial Track & Football Stadium |
| 05.06.24 | | Philippines | My Dinh National Stadium |
| 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 |  | 11 | Jordan | Pamir Stadium |
 | 40 | Pakistan | Abdullah Al Dabil Stadium |
| 21.11.23 | | 16 | Tajikistan | Jinnah Sports Stadium |
| 02 | Saudi Arabia | Amman International Stadium |
| 05.06.24 | | Tajikistan | Amman International Stadium |
| Saudi Arabia | Punjab Stadium |
| 10.06.24 | | Jordan | King Fahd International Stadium |
| 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 |  | 40 | Nepal | Al-Maktoum Stadium |
 | 02 | United Arab Emirates | Bahrain National Stadium |
| 05.06.24 | | United Arab Emirates | Dasarath Rangasala Stadium |
| 10.06.24 | | 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 |  | 70 | Bangladesh | AAMI Park |
| 21.11.23 | | 11 | Lebanon | Bashundhara Kings Arena |
| Australia | Bangabandhu National Stadium |
| Bangladesh | Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium |
1st Round
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | Myanmar | 51 | Macau |
| Aggregate | Maldives | 23 | Bangladesh |
| 12.10.23 |  | 11 | Bangladesh | National Football Stadium (MDV) |
| 17.10.23 | | 21 | Maldives | Bashundhara Kings Arena |
| Aggregate | Chinese Taipei | 70 | Timor-Leste |
| 12.10.23 | | 40 | Timor-Leste | Kaohsiung National Stadium |
| 17.10.23 | | 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 | | 10 | Mongolia | Pamir Stadium |
| 17.10.23 | | 01 | Afghanistan | MFF Football Centre |
| Aggregate | Yemen | 41 | Sri Lanka |
