2026 AFC Qualifiers

[blahblah]

If we can make it to the end of the year unbeaten, I feel we'll make it thru.
It SHOULD be us, Japan and the Saudis that progress, just the order will be the question.

Only top two progress directly to the World Cup. Third and fourth go to the Fourth Round.

[Stuckey]

If we can make it to the end of the year unbeaten, I feel we'll make it thru.
It SHOULD be us, Japan and the Saudis that progress, just the order will be the question.

Only top two progress directly to the World Cup. Third and fourth go to the Fourth Round.

Yeah I'm presuming 3rd place is a shoe in for first place next round.

[blahblah]

A few surprising results apart from ours.....

South Korea was held at home to a draw by Palestine
Saudi Arabia held at home to a draw by Indonesia (a result to give us the jitters)
China were hammed 0-7 at home by Japan (another result to give us the jitters)

[blahblah]

Deep into the third round now.

in Group A its really between Iran (16 points), Uzbekistan (13 points) and UAE (10 points) for the top two spots. Qatar are still in the hunt mathematically (7 points), but the goal difference between them and the UAE is 15.

In Group B is similar with South Korea (14), Iraq (11) and Jordan (9) fighting for the top two. Oman are again, mathematically in the hunt (5), but there is a 7 goal difference between them and Jordan.

Group C is an all-in brawl with Japan almost qualified (16) followed by Australia (7) and Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China all on 6. Anything could happen.

[Stuckey]

Hopefully for our sake we can finally string some results together with 2 win-able games coming up. Then Japan do us a favour knocking the Saudis off at home. If that takes place then that should see Japan qualified and then hopefully they'll send their B team to Aus in June and if we win that game we're looking good still. But I think we're still looking likely we'll have to get a result from our trip to Saudi.

[blahblah]

Japan & Iran through.

Great to see the White Wolves on the cusp of qualification; 4 points ahead of UAE with UAE away and Qatar at home to come. Qatar have shipped more goals than anyone from all 3 groups of the 3rd round of AFC qualification. Certainly I want to see Uzbekistan in the World Cup.

[blahblah]

Quite an eventful Round Three penultimate match-day.

Group A
Uzbekistan drew with UAE, sealing their qualification. The White Wolves will be joining Iran from Group A in the World Cup.

UAE an Qatar are through to the 4th Round whilst North Korea & Kyrgyzstan are eliminated.

Group B
Jordan and South Korea had comfortable wins over Oman and Graham Arnold's Iraq respectively, seeing them through to the World Cup.

Iraq are already guaranteed a 4th round spot whilst Palestine and Oman will battle it out in Round 4 for the final position. One point separates them, so Palestine will be gunning for a win.

Kuwait are eliminated following their defeat to Palestine.

Group C
Japan are already through, whilst Saudi and Australia will battle it out for the final automatic qualification spot, though the maths is heavily in Australia's favour.

Indonesia are through to the 4th round after defeating China. Quite exciting for our neighbours to the North.

China and Bahrain are eliminated.

[blahblah]

Round 4 draw is on July 17, but already Qatar and Saudi have been named hosts.

A decision that is dodgy as hell with UAE, Indonesia, Oman and Iraq all crying foul.

[Stuckey]

Why aren't these home and away games? Last world cup they had a hub for the late rounds due to covid.

[blahblah]

Why aren't these home and away games? Last world cup they had a hub for the late rounds due to covid.

May be running short on FIFA windows given there is a 5th round and an inter-confederation play-off.

[blahblah]

4th round kicks off tonight:
Group A:
Oman v Qatar (UAE bye)

Group B:
Indonesia v Saudi Arabia (Iraq bye)

Here's to hoping Indonesia pull off something spectacular! They drew when they played Saudi away in the 3rd round and should have won the match, so it is certainly within the realm of possibility.

[sevengoals]

Lucky Saudi Arabia and Qatar playing at home ...
Would be massive if Indonesia get the result.

[blahblah]

Really good preview from Deadball TV; best analysis of Asian football I've come across.

[sevengoals]

Really good preview from Deadball TV; best analysis of Asian football I've come across.

That was fun and informative and the penny dropped that Graham Arnold could also be at the WC with Iraq.
What a reunion that would be.

[blahblah]

Oman 0 - Qatar 0, all the pressure is now on Qatar whilst the Omanis can dare to dream

Indonesia 2 - Saudi 3, the Saudis scraped a win, though face a far sterner task against Iraq. A great turn out from the Indonesian fans (plenty of guest workers in Saudi).