2026 AFC Qualifiers

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There will be 48 teams in the WC in Canada/USA/Mexico, with 8.33 places going to the AFC.

Oct 2023 - 1st Round the top 25 teams sit out, where the rest (22) battle it out in a home & away against a single drawn opponent. Unclear as to when the draw will occur.

Nov 23 to Jun 24 - 2nd Round, nine groups of four, top two go through

Sep 24 to Jun 25 - 3rd Round, three groups of six, top two qualify for the WC, 3rd & 4th from each go to next round

Sep 25 4th Round, two groups of three at neutral venue, top of each group progress to WC, second go to 5th Round.

Oct 25 5th Round, two teams, winner goes through to Intercontinental Play-off

[Stuckey]

I'm slowly build a case (and a small fortune) for my family to go. Brazil would have been the best one to go to, but I'm sure the yanks and co will put on a good show! I think dropping my wife and daughters off at Disneyland on my way down to catch a game in Mexico will be a win for all!

[blahblah]

I'm slowly build a case (and a small fortune) for my family to go. Brazil would have been the best one to go to, but I'm sure the yanks and co will put on a good show! I think dropping my wife and daughters off at Disneyland on my way down to catch a game in Mexico will be a win for all!

Will probably see you there. Thinking of Mexico as well.

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First round is completed and the teams through on aggregate are:

Afghanistan 2–0 Mongolia
Maldives 2–3 Bangladesh
Singapore 3–1 Guam
Yemen 4–1 Sri Lanka
Myanmar 5–1 Macau
Cambodia 0–1 Pakistan
Chinese Taipei 7–0 Timor-Leste
Indonesia 12–0 Brunei
Hong Kong 4–2 Bhutan
Nepal 2–1 Laos

Second Round kicks off November 16.

Australia's group includes Lebanon, Palestine and Bangladesh. We'll be facing Bangladesh at AAMI on the 16th and then Palestine in Algiers on the 21st.

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The first two match-days have come and gone with all of the usual suspects unscathed.

As we are looking at 8, rather than 4, upsets futher down the line included:

Tajikistan drawing with Jordan, denied a home win in stoppage time

Kyrgysztan's 1-0 home win over Oman, after losing in Malaysia 4-3. The boys from Bishkek will be fun to watch.

The Uzbeks looked good in their 2-2 draw at home to Iran. Out of all of the AFC teams who have never been to the World Cup, the White Wolves are the ones I really hope to see make the final 8.

[EdDog]

Very poor second showing but not the first time we've seen this in Asia away from home.

First (for us) round of qualifiers is almost a waste of time. Should go through Undefeated.

[blahblah]

Very poor second showing but not the first time we've seen this in Asia away from home.

First (for us) round of qualifiers is almost a waste of time. Should go through Undefeated.

Very average indeed; devoid of creativity. I was hoping Yengi would get a run for Duke around the 60' to bring something different to our game.

[blahblah]

Some interesting games on tonight. Japan v North Korea is a game that is likely to be fiery (from the North Korean side at least, my guess is the Japanese will be just hoping not to be too badly injured). Another is Oman v Malaysia, a phrase I never expected to utter (Malaysia have really picked up their game).

[mcjules]

Some interesting games on tonight. Japan v North Korea is a game that is likely to be fiery (from the North Korean side at least, my guess is the Japanese will be just hoping not to be too badly injured). Another is Oman v Malaysia, a phrase I never expected to utter (Malaysia have really picked up their game).

Clearly the influence of Adelaide United alumni Pau Marti

[blahblah]

Some interesting games on tonight. Japan v North Korea is a game that is likely to be fiery (from the North Korean side at least, my guess is the Japanese will be just hoping not to be too badly injured). Another is Oman v Malaysia, a phrase I never expected to utter (Malaysia have really picked up their game).

Clearly the influence of Adelaide United alumni Pau Marti

Scott Odonnel, ex NSL Paramatta centre back, is their technical director. Beaten 2-0 away, however have the reverse fixture in KL on the 26th.

Only surprises for the night were in Group C, where Thailand drew with South Korea in Seoul and Singapore drew with China in Singapore; there would have been some Anchor beer sunk in the Lion City last night.

The other odd thing was only 3,000 people in Abhu Dabi turning out to watch UAE play Yemen. I'm unsure if UAE's deep involvement in the Yemen civil war meant entry restrictions, but it is certainly possible. EDIT: Just checked their previous game against Nepal, I think it is merely a matter of no-one giving a toss.

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North Korea cancelled the return leg against Japan in Pyongyang. The AFC suggested a replay, however FIFA declared the match cancelled and unable to be replayed.

A decision will be made regarding the match and, I assume, North Korea's continued participation.

https://www.nknews.org/2024/03/north-ko ... fore-game/

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Most games in the 4th round went as expected, bar Afghanistan who managed a 1-2 win away to India, and Tajikistan, who've continued their good form with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia.

Teams already qualified for the Third Round include:
Qatar, Iran, Uzbekistan, Iraq, UAE, Australia.

Japan may have qualified, depending on the FIFA ruling regarding the cancelled match in Pyongyang.

[blahblah]

Japan awarded a 0-3 win and hence qualified for the third round.