The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that Qatar and Saudi Arabia will host the fourth and final round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The playoffs will determine the last two automatic spots from Asia.
From October 8 to 14, 2025, six teams—those who finished third and fourth in the previous round—will be split into two groups of three. Each group will compete in a round-robin, centralized format.
The top team in each group will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup. The second-placed teams will then face off in a two-legged playoff on November 13 and 18, with the winner moving on to the inter-confederation playoffs for another chance at qualification.
When Is the AFC Fourth Round Draw?
The official draw for the fourth and final round of AFC World Cup qualifying will be held on July 17, 2025. Match venues for the group stage will be finalized following the draw.
Recap: What Happened in the Last Round?
The third round of qualifying consisted of three groups of six teams each. The top two from every group earned direct entry to the 2026 World Cup, filling six of Asia’s allocated eight slots.
The teams finishing third and fourth in each group advanced to the fourth round, while the bottom two were eliminated. Palestine was the last team to bow out after a narrow loss to Oman, who clinched fourth place in Group B with a late penalty.
Which AFC Teams Have Already Qualified?
Six Asian nations have already punched their ticket to the 2026 World Cup:
- Japan was the first to qualify, dominating Group C.
- Australia secured second place in the same group with a decisive win over Saudi Arabia.
- South Korea and Iraq topped their respective groups.
- Jordan and Uzbekistan, finishing second in their groups, also qualified, both making their first-ever appearance at a FIFA World Cup.
Which Teams Are Still in Contention?
Six teams are still in the running for Asia’s remaining two World Cup slots:
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
Qatar, the reigning AFC Asian Cup champions and 2022 World Cup hosts, had a mixed campaign and ended up fourth in Group A. The UAE managed third place in the same group.
Looking Ahead: When Is the Next AFC Asian Cup?
The next AFC Asian Cup will be held in 2027, with Saudi Arabia serving as the host. The country is also set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Asian Cup Qualification: How It Works
- First Round: Began in October 2023, featuring 20 lower-ranked teams (ranked 27–46) playing home-and-away ties. Ten winners moved on.
- Second Round: The top 26 ranked teams joined the qualifiers, forming nine groups of four. This stage ran through 2023–2024.
The winners and runners-up from these nine groups secured spots in both the 2027 Asian Cup and the AFC third round of World Cup qualifiers.
The third round of Asian Cup qualifying is currently ongoing to fill the remaining spots in the continental tournament.
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