Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualification for the 2026 World Cup resumes on March 21, 2024, with eight teams aiming to continue their unbeaten start, while 14 nations seek their first victories.
After the recent conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup, the focus has now shifted back to the qualification journey for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Matchdays 3 and 4 commence on March 21, unfolding across the nine groups.
Powerhouses like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, hope to maintain their perfect records and secure progression to the third round. On the other hand, teams such as Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Nepal aim to get some points on the board and keep their hopes alive for advancement.
The Sporting News provides updates on the AFC qualification groups as anticipation builds for two pivotal rounds of matches.
MORE: FIFA World Cup 2026 match schedule announcement
How AFC World Cup 2026 qualifying works
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process for the AFC will determine which teams from Asia will participate in the USA, Canada and Mexico tournament.
Within this process, AFC teams will compete for eight direct qualification places and one additional slot through an inter-confederation playoff.
We are currently in the second round of the qualification process. This means 36 teams, consisting of the top 26 ranked teams along with ten first-round winners, are divided into nine groups, each comprising four teams.
These teams will compete in a home-and-away format against each other within their respective groups. The winners and runners-up of each group will progress to the third round and secure automatic qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The remaining teams will advance to the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification.
AFC World Cup 2026 qualifying groups and standings
Group A table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Qatar | 16 | 6 | 15 |
| 2. Kuwait | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| 3. India | 5 | 6 | -4 |
| 4. Afghanistan | 5 | 6 | -11 |
Group B table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Japan | 18 | 6 | 24 |
| 2. North Korea | 9 | 6 | 4 |
| 3. Syria | 7 | 6 | -3 |
| 4. Myanmar | 1 | 6 | -25 |
Group C table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. South Korea | 16 | 6 | 20 |
| 2. China | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| 3. Thailand | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| 4. Singapore | 1 | 6 | -19 |
Group D table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Oman | 13 | 6 | 9 |
| 2. Kyrgyzstan | 11 | 6 | 6 |
| 3. Malaysia | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| 4. Chinese Taipei | 0 | 6 | -15 |
Group E table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Iran | 14 | 6 | 12 |
| 2. Uzbekistan | 14 | 6 | 9 |
| 3. Turkmenistan | 2 | 6 | -10 |
| 4. Hong Kong | 2 | 6 | -11 |
Group F table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Iraq | 18 | 6 | 15 |
| 2. Indonesia | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| 3. Vietnam | 6 | 6 | -4 |
| 4. Philippines | 1 | 6 | -11 |
Group G table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jordan | 13 | 6 | 12 |
| 2. Saudi Arabia | 13 | 6 | 9 |
| 3. Tajikistan | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| 4. Pakistan | 0 | 6 | -25 |
Group H table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. UAE | 16 | 6 | 14 |
| 2. Bahrain | 11 | 6 | 8 |
| 3. Yemen | 5 | 6 | -4 |
| 4. Nepal | 1 | 6 | -18 |
Group I table
| Team | PTS | GP | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Australia | 18 | 6 | 22 |
| 2. Palestine | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| 3. Lebanon | 6 | 6 | -3 |
| 4. Bangladesh | 1 | 6 | -19 |