2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round

The AFC second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, which also serves as the second round of 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification, is expected to be played from 16 November 2023 to 11 June 2024.[1][2]

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
Tournament details
Dates16 November 2023 – 11 June 2024
Teams36 (from 1 confederation)

Format

A total of 36 teams will be drawn into 9 groups of 4 to play home-and-away round-robin matches. They include the 26 teams which received byes to this round, and the 10 winners from the first round.[3]

The winners and runners-up of each group will advance to the third round and qualify for 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The third and fourth place teams will advance to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualification.[4]

Seeding

The draw for the second round was held on 27 July 2023 at 16:00 MST (UTC+8) at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[5]

The seeding was based on the FIFA World Rankings of July 2023 (shown in parentheses below). The identities of the first round winners were not known at the time of the draw.

Note: Bolded teams qualified for the third round.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
  1.  Japan (20)
  2.  Iran (22)
  3.  Australia (27)
  4.  South Korea (28)
  5.  Saudi Arabia (54)[note 1]
  6.  Qatar (59)
  7.  Iraq (70)
  8.  United Arab Emirates (72)
  9.  Oman (73)
  1.  Uzbekistan (74)
  2.  China (80)
  3.  Jordan (82)
  4.  Bahrain (86)
  5.  Syria (94)
  6.  Vietnam (95)
  7.  Palestine (96)
  8.  Kyrgyzstan (97)
  9.  India (99)
  1.  Lebanon (100)
  2.  Tajikistan (110)
  3.  Thailand (113)
  4.  North Korea (115)
  5.  Philippines (135)
  6.  Malaysia (136)
  7.  Kuwait (137)
  8.  Turkmenistan (138)
  1.  Hong Kong (149)†
  2.  Indonesia (150)†
  3.  Chinese Taipei (153)†
  4.  Yemen (156)†‡
  5.  Afghanistan (157)†
  6.  Singapore (158)†
  7.  Myanmar (160)†
  8.    Nepal (175)†
  9.  Bangladesh (189)†
  10.  Pakistan (201)†

† Teams whose identity was not known at the time of the draw.
‡ Team moved to Pot 3 after the other Pot 4 teams had been drawn into groups. Subsequently drawn at random from Pot 3.

Schedule

The schedule is expected to be as follows, according to the FIFA International Match Calendar.[1]

Matchday Date(s)
Matchday 1 16 November 2023
Matchday 2 21 November 2023
Matchday 3 21 March 2024
Matchday 4 26 March 2024
Matchday 5 6 June 2024
Matchday 6 11 June 2024

Groups

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Qatar India Kuwait Afghanistan
1  Qatar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  India 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Kuwait 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4  Afghanistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Qatar v Afghanistan
Report
Kuwait v India
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Afghanistan v Kuwait
Report
India v Qatar
Report
Afghanistan v India
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Qatar v Kuwait
Report
India v Afghanistan
Report
Kuwait v Qatar
Report
Afghanistan v Qatar
Report
India v Kuwait
Report
Qatar v India
Report
Kuwait v Afghanistan
Report

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Japan Syria North Korea Myanmar
1  Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  Syria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  North Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4  Myanmar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Japan v Myanmar
Report
North Korea v Syria
Report
Myanmar v North Korea
Report
Syria v Japan
Report
Myanmar v Syria
Report
Japan v North Korea
Report
Syria v Myanmar
Report
North Korea v Japan
Report
Myanmar v Japan
Report
Syria v North Korea
Report
Japan v Syria
Report
North Korea v Myanmar
Report

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification South Korea China Thailand Singapore
1  South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4  Singapore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
South Korea v Singapore
Report
Thailand v China
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Singapore v Thailand
Report
China v South Korea
Report
Singapore v China
Report
South Korea v Thailand
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China v Singapore
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Thailand v South Korea
Report
Singapore v South Korea
Report
China v Thailand
Report
South Korea v China
Report
Thailand v Singapore
Report

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Oman Kyrgyzstan Malaysia Chinese Taipei
1  Oman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  Kyrgyzstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Malaysia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4  Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Oman v Chinese Taipei
Report
Malaysia v Kyrgyzstan
Report
Chinese Taipei v Malaysia
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Kyrgyzstan v Oman
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Chinese Taipei v Kyrgyzstan
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Oman v Malaysia
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Kyrgyzstan v Chinese Taipei
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Malaysia v Oman
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Chinese Taipei v Oman
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Kyrgyzstan v Malaysia
Report
Oman v Kyrgyzstan
Report

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Iran Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Hong Kong
1  Iran 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  Uzbekistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Turkmenistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4  Hong Kong 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Iran v Hong Kong
Report
Turkmenistan v Uzbekistan
Report
Hong Kong v Turkmenistan
Report
Uzbekistan v Iran
Report
Hong Kong v Uzbekistan
Report
Iran v Turkmenistan
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Uzbekistan v Hong Kong
Report
Turkmenistan v Iran
Report
Hong Kong v Iran
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Uzbekistan v Turkmenistan
Report
Iran v Uzbekistan
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Turkmenistan v Hong Kong
Report

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Iraq Vietnam Philippines Indonesia
1  Iraq 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  Vietnam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Philippines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4  Indonesia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Iraq v Indonesia
Report
Philippines v Vietnam
Report
Indonesia v Philippines
Report
Vietnam v Iraq
Report
Indonesia v Vietnam
Report
Iraq v Philippines
Report
Vietnam v Indonesia
Report
Philippines v Iraq
Report
Indonesia v Iraq
Report
Vietnam v Philippines
Report
Iraq v Vietnam
Report
Philippines v Indonesia
Report

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Saudi Arabia Jordan Tajikistan Pakistan
1  Saudi Arabia[lower-alpha 1] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  Jordan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Tajikistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4  Pakistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Notes:
  1. Saudi Arabia already qualified for the Asian Cup as the host nation.
Saudi Arabia v Pakistan
Report
Tajikistan v Jordan
Report
Pakistan v Tajikistan
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Jordan v Saudi Arabia
Report
Pakistan v Jordan
Report
Saudi Arabia v Tajikistan
Report
Jordan v Pakistan
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Tajikistan v Saudi Arabia
Report
Pakistan v Saudi Arabia
Report
Jordan v Tajikistan
Report
Saudi Arabia v Jordan
Report
Tajikistan v Pakistan
Report

Group H

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification United Arab Emirates Bahrain Yemen Nepal
1  United Arab Emirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  Bahrain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Yemen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4    Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
United Arab Emirates v   Nepal
Report
Yemen v Bahrain
Report
Nepal   v Yemen
Report
Bahrain v United Arab Emirates
Report
Nepal   v Bahrain
Report
United Arab Emirates v Yemen
Report
Bahrain v   Nepal
Report
Yemen v United Arab Emirates
Report
Nepal   v United Arab Emirates
Report
Bahrain v Yemen
Report
United Arab Emirates v Bahrain
Report
Yemen v   Nepal
Report

Group I

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Australia State of Palestine Lebanon Bangladesh
1  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 16 Nov
2  Palestine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nov — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Lebanon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 16 Nov — 11 Jun
4  Bangladesh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 21 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Australia v Bangladesh
Report
Lebanon v Palestine
Report
Bangladesh v Lebanon
Report
Palestine v Australia
Report
Bangladesh v Palestine
Report
Australia v Lebanon
Report
Palestine v Bangladesh
Report
Lebanon v Australia
Report
Bangladesh v Australia
Report
Palestine v Lebanon
Report
Australia v Palestine
Report
Lebanon v Bangladesh
Report

Notes
  1. Saudi Arabia already qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup as tournament hosts and are competing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  2. Afghanistan will play their home game at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Afghan conflict.
  3. Syria will play their home game at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Syrian civil war.
  4. The home match of Indonesia against Philippines is proposed to be swapped with the away match because it coincides with the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup schedule. The AFC has agreed to the schedule change, but it will require FIFA to similarly approve the change, due to the nature as a dual qualification.[6]
  5. Yemen will play their home game at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Yemeni civil war.
  6. Lebanon will play their home matches at a neutral venue until further notice, due to the adjacent Israel–Hamas war.[8]
  7. Palestine will play their home matches at a neutral venue until further notice, due to the ongoing Israel–Hamas war.[9]

References
  1. "AFC Competitions Calendar (Aug 2023 - Jul 2024)" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  2. "AFC Competitions Calendar (Aug 2024 - Jul 2025)" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  3. "Seedings revealed for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers draw". AFC. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  4. "Asia's pathway to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 confirmed". AFC. 1 August 2022.
  5. "Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers draw". AFC. 5 July 2023.
  6. "Indonesia tandang lebih dulu ke Filipina". CNN Indonesia. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  7. "Subway Socceroos launch FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with qualifier in Melbourne". Football Australia. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  8. "Lebanon have chosen the Khalid Bin Mohamed Stadium in Sharja". Twitter. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  9. "Palestine have chosen Kuwait as the venue of their "home" World Cup qualifier against Australia on November 21". Twitter. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
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