2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
Tournament details | |
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Dates | 16 November 2023 – 11 June 2024 |
Teams | 36 (from 1 confederation) |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 71 |
Goals scored | 230 (3.24 per match) |
Attendance | 1,372,016 (19,324 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | Almoez Ali (7 goals) |
The second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC qualification, which also serves as the second round of 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification, began on 16 November 2023 and will be completed on 11 June 2024.[1][2]
Format[edit]
A total of 36 teams were drawn into 9 groups of 4 to play home-and-away round-robin matches. They included 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 the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The third and fourth place teams will advance to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualification.[4]
Seeding[edit]
The draw for the second round was held on 27 July 2023 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 of World Cup qualifying.
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
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† 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[edit]
The schedule is expected to be as follows, according to the FIFA International Match Calendar.[1]
Matchday | Date(s) |
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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[edit]
Group A[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Qatar (Q) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 12 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 11 Jun | 8–1 | 3–0 | |
2 | India | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 4 | 0–3 | — | 1–2 | 6 Jun | ||
3 | Afghanistan | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | −10 | 4 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 6 Jun | 0–0 | — | 0–4 | |
4 | Kuwait | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 11 Jun | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Kuwait | 0–1 | India |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Afghanistan | 0–4 | Kuwait |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Afghanistan | 0–0 | India |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Kuwait | 1–2 | Qatar |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Afghanistan | v | Qatar |
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Report |
Group B[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
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1 | Japan (Q) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | +14 | 12 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 11 Jun | 1–0 | 5–0 | |
2 | Syria | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 7 | 0–5 | — | 1–0 | 7–0 | ||
3 | North Korea | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3[a] | 6 Jun | — | 11 Jun | |
4 | Myanmar | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 19 | −17 | 1 | 6 Jun | 1–1 | 1–6 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
- ^ Japan were awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit, after North Korea refused to host the match citing concerns about a disease spreading in Japan.
Syria | 1–0 | North Korea |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Myanmar | 1–6 | North Korea |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Syria | 0–5 | Japan |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Myanmar | 1–1 | Syria |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Syria | 7–0 | Myanmar |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
North Korea | 0–3 Awarded[note 5] | Japan |
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Report |
North Korea | v | Syria |
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Report |
Group C[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
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1 | South Korea | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 10 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 11 Jun | 1–1 | 5–0 | |
2 | China | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 7 | 0–3 | — | 6 Jun | 4–1 | ||
3 | Thailand | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 1–2 | — | 11 Jun | |
4 | Singapore | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 1 | 6 Jun | 2–2 | 1–3 | — |
South Korea | 5–0 | Singapore |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Thailand | 1–2 | China |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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China | 0–3 | South Korea |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Singapore | 2–2 | China |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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China | 4–1 | Singapore |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Thailand | 0–3 | South Korea |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Group D[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kyrgyzstan | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 9 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–0 | 6 Jun | 5–1 | |
2 | Oman | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 9 | 11 Jun | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | ||
3 | Malaysia | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 6 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 4–3 | 0–2 | — | 11 Jun | |
4 | Chinese Taipei (Q) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 | −10 | 0 | 0–2 | 6 Jun | 0–1 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Oman | 3–0 | Chinese Taipei |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Malaysia | 4–3 | Kyrgyzstan |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Chinese Taipei | 0–2 | Kyrgyzstan |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Oman | 2–0 | Malaysia |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Group E[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
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1 | Iran (Q) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 | +10 | 10 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 11 Jun | 5–0 | 4–0 | |
2 | Uzbekistan (Q) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 10 | 2–2 | — | 6 Jun | 3–0 | ||
3 | Turkmenistan (Q) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 1 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–1 | 1–3 | — | 11 Jun | |
4 | Hong Kong (Q) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 1 | 6 Jun | 0–2 | 2–2 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Turkmenistan | 1–3 | Uzbekistan |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Hong Kong | 2–2 | Turkmenistan |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Uzbekistan | 2–2 | Iran |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Hong Kong | 0–2 | Uzbekistan |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Uzbekistan | 3–0 | Hong Kong |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Turkmenistan | 0–1 | Iran |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Group F[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
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1 | Iraq (Q) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 12 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 5–1 | 11 Jun | 1–0 | |
2 | Indonesia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 6 Jun | — | 1–0 | 11 Jun | ||
3 | Vietnam | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–1 | 0–3 | — | 6 Jun | |
4 | Philippines | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Iraq | 5–1 | Indonesia |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Philippines | 1–1 | Indonesia |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Vietnam | 0–1 | Iraq |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Indonesia | 1–0 | Vietnam |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Iraq | 1–0 | Philippines |
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| Report (FIFA) |
Vietnam | 0–3 | Indonesia |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Group G[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Saudi Arabia[a] | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 10 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 11 Jun | 1–0 | 4–0 | |
2 | Jordan | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 7 | 0–2 | — | 6 Jun | 7–0 | ||
3 | Tajikistan | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 5 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 11 Jun | |
4 | Pakistan (Q) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 20 | −19 | 0 | 6 Jun | 0–3 | 1–6 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
- ^ Saudi Arabia has already qualified for the Asian Cup as the host nation.
Tajikistan | 1–1 | Jordan |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Pakistan | 1–6 | Tajikistan |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Jordan | 0–2 | Saudi Arabia |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Pakistan | 0–3 | Jordan |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Jordan | 7–0 | Pakistan |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Tajikistan | 1–1 | Saudi Arabia |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Group H[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
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1 | United Arab Emirates (Q) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 12 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 11 Jun | 2–1 | 4–0 | |
2 | Bahrain | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 9 | 0–2 | — | 6 Jun | 3–0 | ||
3 | Yemen | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 3 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 0–2 | — | 11 Jun | |
4 | Nepal (Q) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | −14 | 0 | 6 Jun | 0–5 | 0–2 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
United Arab Emirates | 4–0 | Nepal |
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| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Yemen | 0–2 | Bahrain |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Nepal | 0–2 | Yemen |
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Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Nepal | 0–5 | Bahrain |
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Report (FIFA) |
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Bahrain | 3–0 |
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