There are several qualifying rounds and groups in the Asian qualifying zone, AFC. Between 2023 to 2025 (subject to changes), 46 countries in Asia will compete for a total of 8 to 9 World Cup tickets to be awarded (out of 48). These are the 46 countries that belong to the AFC zone and are members of FIFA. They will compete for the 2026 world title in North America. In alphabetical order:
Afghanistan
Australia
Bangladesh
Bahrain
Bhutan
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China PR
Guam
Hong Kong
Indonesia
India
IR Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Japan
Kyrgyz Republic
Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Palestine
Korea DPR
Qatar
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria
Thailand
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Timor-Leste
Chinese Taipei
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Pro Shots / Action Images
Worldwide six countries will participate in a play-off mini-event for the last 2 (of the 48) 2026 World Cup tickets to earn. None will be from the European FIFA zone, UEFA. The other five zones will each send one country, while the continent of North America, as host, may also send the sixth country to compete for the final two tickets to the final round. As a result, at least 8 to possibly 9 countries from the FIFA zone AFC will qualify for the World Cup 2026.
Entrants: the 22 AFC countries that are lowest on the FIFA Ranking.
The 11 winners of the head-to-head matches advance to Round 2.
Round 1 first matches
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
Round 1 returns
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 13
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 14
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 15
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 16
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 17
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 18
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 19
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 20
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 21
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 22
0-0
Groups Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2
Entrants: the 11 winners from Round 1 + the 25 top AFC countries in the FIFA Ranking = 36 teams.
The 18 numbers one and two of the groups advance to the AFC Asian Qualifiers.
Group A
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match A9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP A
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group B
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match B9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP B
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group C
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match C9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP C
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group D
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match D9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP D
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group E
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match E9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP E
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group F
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match F9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP F
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group G
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match G9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP G
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group H
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match H9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP H
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group I
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 11
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 12
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP I
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Groups AFC Asian Qualifiers
Entrants: the 18 numbers one and two from Round 2.
The 6 numbers one and two of the groups qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 6 numbers three and four of the groups proceed to the AFC Asian Playoffs.
Group I
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match I-9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP I
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
5
Team 5
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
6
Team 6
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group II
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match II9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP II
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
5
Team 5
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
6
Team 6
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group III
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III3
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III4
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III5
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III6
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III7
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III8
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match III9
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 10
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP III
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
4
Team 4
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
5
Team 5
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
6
Team 6
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Groups AFC Asian Playoffs
Entrants: the 6 numbers three and four of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.
Both numbers one of the groups qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Both numbers two of the groups will play a new mutual play-off match. Participation in the FIFA cross-continental World Cup 2026 play-offs is at stake.
Group 1
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 1-1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 1-2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 1-3
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP 1
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
Group 2
DATE
TIME
MATCH
WHERE
RESULT
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 2-1
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 2-2
0-0
00-00-’00
00:00
Match 2-3
0-0
Standings
#
GROUP 2
P
W
D
L
PTS
GD
1
Team 1
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
2
Team 2
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
3
Team 3
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
AFC Qualification for FIFA World Cup | Format
The qualifying series in FIFA Zone AFC for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is structured as follows.
In the Asian qualifiers 46 countries compete for eight to nine tickets for the World Cup Football in North America. Matches are spread over four rounds. These will produce eight qualified countries. For one AFC nation, a resit is scheduled in the intercontinental play-offs.
Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1
The 22 (of 46 participating) countries of the AFC football continent that are lowest on the FIFA Ranking will start in this first qualifying round. A draw results in eleven mutual matches. Each team plays an away game and a home game. The eleven winners will proceed to the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2.
Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2
Round 2 consists of the eleven winners of the first qualifying round, supplemented by the top 25 teams from the FIFA / AFC Ranking. This makes a total of 36 teams. These nations are drawn into nine groups of four. Each country plays six games: home and away against each of their three group opponents. From each of the nine groups, the top two countries will advance to the third stage of the Asian World Cup qualifying series.
AFC Asian Qualifiers, Round 3
The eighteen most successful countries from Qualifying Round 2 will proceed to Round 3; the official AFC Asian World Cup Football Qualifiers. There will be three groups of six teams. Each country plays ten matches; home and away against each of their five group opponents. The six AFC nations that finish first and second in their group qualify directly for the World Cup 2026 finals. The teams that finish third and fourth join the Asian play-offs.
AFC Asian Playoffs, Round 4
In the AFC playoffs, the six numbers three and four of the three AFC Asian Qualifier Groups continue to play in two newly formed groups of three. All countries play against each other once, on neutral ground. This means that two new matches are scheduled for each team.
Both numbers one are then already assured of a 2026 World Cup finals entrance, in addition to the six countries that have already qualified directly for the World Cup in Round 3. Both numbers two will play another, mutual play-off game. The winner proceeds to the intercontinental play-offs. That final chance can result in one more AFC country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Football: 9 instead of the minimum number of 8 AFC teams.
AFC 2026 World Cup Road combined with AFC Asian Cup qualifiers
Parallel to the AFC 2026 World Cup qualification, participation in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup is also at stake. The ten ‘worst’ losers from the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 will play in five new, mutual AFC Asian Cup play-off matches. The winners will qualify for the final round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying phase, consisting of 24 national teams in total. The ‘best’ loser from Round 1 is already allowed to advance to that stage directly. The same applies to the eighteen numbers 3 and 4 of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2. These 24 countries are divided into six groups of four. Eventually, the six numbers one of these groups qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals.
The 2026 American Dream: the United States is one of the three hosts of the FIFA World Cup Soccer in North America. The USA is the host country with the most - eleven - host cities.
With Vancouver, and Toronto, Canada has two host cities for the world's football finals in North America in 2026. Get more information about the characteristics of these exciting and diverse, dynamic cities.
With Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico has three candidate host cities for the World Cup in 2026. Each host with its specific ambience, history, attractions, hotspots and other features.
The United States will have eleven stadiums for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Click for more information about these fantastic and modern venues in the USA, and which matches they will host.
During the 2026 World Cup finals, these are the two venues in Canada: BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, and BMO Field in Toronto. Find out more about these attractive Canadian stadiums.
In Mexico, the FIFA 2026 World Cup will take place in these stadiums: Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the BBVA Bancomer Stadium in Monterrey.
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The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
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The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.