The top nine teams in the AFC were in Pot 1, while the nations ranked between 10 to 18 were in Pot 2. The third Pot included teams ranked from 19 to 27, while the bottom 18 AFC nations will start their journey in Round 1, with nine of the winners making their way into Pot 4 for the Round 2 draws.
Indian men’s football team, who were in Pot 2, was drawn in Group A along side Qatar, Kuwait and the winners of the Round 1 clash between Afghanistan and Mongolia, while Group B will see Japan, Syria, DPR Korea and Myanmar/Macau battling to advance to the third round.
Korea Republic led the Group C cast with China PR, Thailand and Singapore/Guam also in the fray while Group D saw Oman, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei/Timor-Leste drawn together.
Group E will see Islamic Republic of Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong (China)/Bhutan vying to advance to the next round with Iraq, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia/Brunei Darussalam the Group F sides.
Group G consists of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Tajikistan and Cambodia/Pakistan while Group H will see United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen/Sri Lanka and Nepal/Laos tussling for the two berths. Australia, Palestine, Lebanon and Maldives/Bangladesh are the Group I cast. Check out the complete draw:
Asian Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Round 2 Groups
Group A: Qatar, India, Kuwait, Afghanistan/Mongolia
Group B: Japan, Syria, North Korea, Myanmar/Macau
Group C: South Korea, China, Thailand, Singapore/Guam
Group D: Oman, Kyryz Republic, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei/Timor Leste
Group E: Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hong Kong/Bhutan
Group F: Iraq, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia/Brunei Darussalam
Group G: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Tajikistan, Cambodia/Pakistan
Group H: UAE, Bahrain, Yemen/Sri Lanka, Nepal/Laos
Group I: Australia, Palestine, Lebanon, Maldives/Bangladesh
The Round 2 matches will be played after the Round 1 fixtures are completed. Round 1 will see each team playing one home and one away match on October 12 and 17, 2023 respectively. The Round 2 matches will be held in home-and-away round-robin format, between November 2023 and June 2024.
FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Qualification Format
As there will be 48 teams – a first – at the FIFA World Cup 2026, some changes have been made by the AFC to the qualification format, with there being more slots on offer for the Continent’s national teams.
20 lowest-ranked Member Associations will begin their road to the 23rd FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, in Round 1. With the 10 winners heading into Round 2, where they are joined by remaining 26 teams.
Then the 36 sides will be drawn into nine groups of four, competing against each team in a home-and-away round-robin format, between November 2023 and June 2024.
All nine group winners and the respective runners-up from Round 2 will advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying, and at the same time seal their places at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
The draw for the third round of the global showpiece in 2026 will be conducted in 2024, where the 18 teams will be divided into three groups of six; the top two from each group will qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The other two direct AFC entrants will be determined in the fourth round of World Cup qualifying, with one more possible berth available via an Intercontinental Playoff.
Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027
Earlier in Round 1 Draw, Afghanistan were drawn to play Mongolia while Maldives will face Bangladesh. Singapore and Guam will square off for a place in Round 2 with Yemen playing Sri Lanka and Myanmar to meet Macau.
Cambodia were drawn against Pakistan, Chinese Taipei will meet Timor-Leste and Indonesia will face off against Brunei Darussalam. The remaining two fixtures saw Hong Kong, China pitted against Bhutan while Nepal will face Laos.
Round 1 Fixtures
Afghanistan vs Mongolia
Maldives vs Bangladesh
Singapore vs Guam
Yemen vs Sri Lanka
Myanmar vs Macau
Cambodia vs Pakistan
Chinese Taipei vs Timor Leste
Indonesia vs Brunei Darussalam
Hong Kong vs Bhutan
Nepal vs Laos
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