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2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
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. EntrantsAll 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] FormatThe 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]
DrawThe 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]
ScheduleThe competition schedule is expected to be as follows:[8][9][10][2]
First roundNote: Bolded teams qualified for the second round of World Cup qualifying.
Second roundSummary Qualified for the third round and Asian Cup as winners or runners-up
Advanced to the Asian Cup third qualifying round as third or fourth place
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group I
Third roundGroup A
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers (X) Assured of advancing to the fourth round; can still qualify directly Group B
Group C
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers (X) Assured of advancing to the fourth round; can still qualify directly Fourth roundGroup A
First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers Group B
First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers Fifth roundThe 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]
Inter-confederation play-offsThe 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] Top goalscorersThere have been 524 goals scored in 181 matches, for an average of 2.9 goals per match (as of 19 November 2024). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition. 12 goals 10 goals 8 goals 7 goals 6 goals 5 goals Below are full goalscorer lists for each round: ControversiesIn the Bahrain vs Japan match, the Bahrain Football Association was fined $4,400 for fan misconduct during Japan's 5–0 win over Bahrain, which included the use of laser pointers and whistles to distract players, as well as Bahraini fans being heard mocking the Japanese national team's anthem.[12] In the match between Bahrain and Indonesia, Bahrain equalised in the ninth minute of stoppage time, despite the fourth official displaying only six minutes of stoppage time. Two players were cautioned after the goal,[13][14] with one of the Indonesian officials also given marching orders.[15] See alsoReferences
External links
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