2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 5 September 2024 – 10 June 2025 |
| Teams | 18 (from 1 confederation) |
The third round of AFC matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will be played from 5 September 2024 to 10 June 2025.[1]
Format
The eighteen teams that advance from the second round (nine group winners and nine group runners-up) will be divided into three groups of six teams. The teams will play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top two teams of each group will qualify directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams will advance to the fourth round.[2]
Qualified teams
The following teams finished first or second in their respective second round groups:
Schedule
The competition schedule is expected to be as follows:[1]
| Matchday | Date |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 5 September 2024 |
| Matchday 2 | 10 September 2024 |
| Matchday 3 | 10 October 2024 |
| Matchday 4 | 15 October 2024 |
| Matchday 5 | 14 November 2024 |
| Matchday 6 | 19 November 2024 |
| Matchday 7 | 20 March 2025 |
| Matchday 8 | 25 March 2025 |
| Matchday 9 | 5 June 2025 |
| Matchday 10 | 10 June 2025 |
Groups
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | A5 | A6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | |
| 2 | A2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | ||
| 3 | A3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fourth round | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | |
| 4 | A4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | ||
| 5 | A5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | ||
| 6 | A6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — |
First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2024. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | B1 | B2 | B3 | B4 | B5 | B6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | |
| 2 | B2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | ||
| 3 | B3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fourth round | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | |
| 4 | B4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | ||
| 5 | B5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | ||
| 6 | B6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — |
First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2024. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 | C6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | |
| 2 | C2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | ||
| 3 | C3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fourth round | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | 20 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Sep[broken anchor] | |
| 4 | C4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 10 Oct[broken anchor] | ||
| 5 | C5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 10 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — | 15 Oct[broken anchor] | ||
| 6 | C6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 10 Sep[broken anchor] | 19 Nov '24[broken anchor] | 25 Mar '25[broken anchor] | 5 Jun '25[broken anchor] | — |
First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2024. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
References
- ^ a b "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2024 – Jun 2025)" (PDF). AFC. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Asia's pathway to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 confirmed". AFC. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2024.