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2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round

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The second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC qualification, which also served as the second round of 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification, began on 16 November 2023 and was completed on 11 June 2024.[1][2]

Quick Facts Tournament details, Dates ...
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Format

A total of 36 teams were drawn into nine groups of four 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 advanced to the third round and qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The third and fourth place teams advanced to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualification.[4]

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Seeding

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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.

More information Pot 1, Pot 2 ...

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.

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Schedule

The match schedule was as follows.[1]

More information Matchday, Date(s) ...

Group A

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
More information Qatar, 8–1 ...
Attendance: 19,374
Referee: Nasrullo Kabirov (Tajikistan)
More information Kuwait, 0–1 ...

More information Afghanistan, 0–4 ...
Attendance: 330
Referee: Ahmed Faisal Al-Ali (Jordan)
More information India, 0–3 ...

More information Qatar, 3–0 ...
More information Afghanistan, 0–0 ...
Attendance: 3,900

More information India, 1–2 ...
Attendance: 8,932
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
More information Kuwait, 1–2 ...
Attendance: 8,460
Referee: Sadullo Gulmurodi (Tajikistan)

More information Afghanistan, 0–0 ...
More information India, 0–0 ...
Attendance: 58,921
Referee: Fu Ming (China)

More information Qatar, 2–1 ...
Attendance: 2,816
Referee: Kim Woo-sung (South Korea)
More information Kuwait, 1–0 ...
Attendance: 11,680
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
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Group B

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. 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.
More information Japan, 5–0 ...
More information Syria, 1–0 ...

More information Myanmar, 1–6 ...
Attendance: 9,500
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
More information Syria, 0–5 ...
Attendance: 6,130
Referee: Ma Ning (China)

More information Japan, 1–0 ...
Attendance: 59,354
Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
More information Myanmar, 1–1 ...
Attendance: 7,580
Referee: Hassan Akrami (Iran)

More information Syria, 7–0 ...
Attendance: 3,252
More information North Korea, 0–3 Awarded ...

More information Myanmar, 0–5 ...
More information North Korea, 1–0 ...
Attendance: 100
Referee: Salman Falahi (Qatar)

More information Japan, 5–0 ...
Attendance: 26,650
Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)
More information North Korea, 4–1 ...
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Group C

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head points: China 4, Thailand 1.
More information South Korea, 5–0 ...
Attendance: 64,381
Referee: Bijan Heydari (Iran)
More information Thailand, 1–2 ...
Attendance: 35,009
Referee: Salman Falahi (Qatar)

More information Singapore, 1–3 ...
Attendance: 29,644
Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)
More information China, 0–3 ...

More information South Korea, 1–1 ...
Attendance: 64,912
Referee: Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)
More information Singapore, 2–2 ...
Attendance: 28,414

More information China, 4–1 ...
Attendance: 42,977
Referee: Omar Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
More information Thailand, 0–3 ...
Attendance: 45,458

More information Singapore, 0–7 ...
Attendance: 49,097
Referee: Sadullo Gulmurodi (Tajikistan)
More information China, 1–1 ...
Attendance: 46,979
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

More information South Korea, 1–0 ...
Attendance: 64,935
Referee: Mohammed Al Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
More information Thailand, 3–1 ...
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Group D

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
More information Oman, 3–0 ...
Attendance: 4,155
Referee: Sadullo Gulmurodi (Tajikistan)
More information Malaysia, 4–3 ...
Attendance: 17,142
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)

More information Chinese Taipei, 0–1 ...
More information Kyrgyzstan, 1–0 ...

More information Chinese Taipei, 0–2 ...
Attendance: 1,028
Referee: Yahya Al-Mulla (United Arab Emirates)
More information Oman, 2–0 ...
Attendance: 21,836
Referee: Fu Ming (China)

More information Kyrgyzstan, 5–1 ...
Attendance: 13,657
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)
More information Malaysia, 0–2 ...

More information Chinese Taipei, 0–3 ...
Attendance: 5,700
Referee: Zaid Thamer (Iraq)
More information Kyrgyzstan, 1–1 ...

More information Oman, 1–1 ...
More information Malaysia, 3–1 ...
Attendance: 14,731
Referee: Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)
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Group E

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
More information Iran, 4–0 ...
Attendance: 6,191
More information Turkmenistan, 1–3 ...
Attendance: 19,500
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)

More information Hong Kong, 2–2 ...
Attendance: 6,601
Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
More information Uzbekistan, 2–2 ...

More information Hong Kong, 0–2 ...
Attendance: 6,263
Referee: Kim Woo-sung (South Korea)
More information Iran, 5–0 ...
Attendance: 23,109
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)

More information Uzbekistan, 3–0 ...
Attendance: 29,584
Referee: Ahmed Faisal Al-Ali (Jordan)
More information Turkmenistan, 0–1 ...
Attendance: 10,230

More information Hong Kong, 2–4 ...
Attendance: 9,992
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)
More information Uzbekistan, 3–1 ...
Attendance: 27,306
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)

More information Turkmenistan, 0–0 ...
Attendance: 10,324
Referee: Hussein Abo Yehia (Lebanon)
More information Iran, 0–0 ...
Attendance: 15,468
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Group F

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
More information Iraq, 5–1 ...
Attendance: 64,447
Referee: Ahmed Eisa (United Arab Emirates)
More information Philippines, 0–2 ...
Attendance: 10,378
Referee: Rustam Lutfullin (Uzbekistan)

More information Philippines, 1–1 ...
More information Vietnam, 0–1 ...
Attendance: 20,568
Referee: Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar)

More information Iraq, 1–0 ...
Attendance: 63,750
Referee: Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)
More information Indonesia, 1–0 ...
Attendance: 57,696
Referee: Salman Falahi (Qatar)

More information Vietnam, 0–3 ...
More information Philippines, 0–5 ...

More information Indonesia, 0–2 ...
More information Vietnam, 3–2 ...
Attendance: 11,568
Referee: Hanna Hattab (Syria)

More information Iraq, 3–1 ...
Attendance: 42,791
Referee: Omar Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
More information Indonesia, 2–0 ...
Attendance: 64,842
Referee: Rustam Lutfullin (Uzbekistan)
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Group G

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. Saudi Arabia already qualified for the Asian Cup as the host nation and only competed to qualify for the World Cup.
More information Saudi Arabia, 4–0 ...
Attendance: 11,150
Referee: Hanna Hattab (Syria)
More information Tajikistan, 1–1 ...
Attendance: 13,650
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)

More information Pakistan, 1–6 ...
Attendance: 18,316
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
More information Jordan, 0–2 ...
Attendance: 13,845
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

More information Pakistan, 0–3 ...
Attendance: 9,625
Referee: Rustam Lutfullin (Uzbekistan)
More information Saudi Arabia, 1–0 ...

More information Jordan, 7–0 ...
Attendance: 14,695
Referee: Nivon Robesh Gamini (Sri Lanka)
More information Tajikistan, 1–1 ...
Attendance: 13,300

More information Pakistan, 0–3 ...
Attendance: 20,124
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)
More information Jordan, 3–0 ...
Attendance: 14,795
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

More information Tajikistan, 3–0 ...
Attendance: 7,800
More information Saudi Arabia, 1–2 ...
Attendance: 17,871
Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
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Group H

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
More information United Arab Emirates, 4–0 ...
More information Yemen, 0–2 ...

More information Nepal, 0–2 ...
Attendance: 13,735
Referee: Shen Yinhao (China)
More information Bahrain, 0–2 ...
Attendance: 18,267
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoish (Saudi Arabia)

More information United Arab Emirates, 2–1 ...
More information Nepal, 0–5 ...
Attendance: 5,041
Referee: Alex King (Australia)

More information Bahrain, 3–0 ...
Attendance: 2,475
Referee: Ryo Tanimoto (Japan)
More information Yemen, 0–3 ...
Attendance: 1,135
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

More information Nepal, 0–4 ...
Attendance: 2,450
Referee: Payam Heydari (Iran)
More information Bahrain, 0–0 ...

More information United Arab Emirates, 1–1 ...
Attendance: 953
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
More information Yemen, 2–2 ...
Attendance: 905
Referee: Ahmad Ibrahim (Jordan)
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Group I

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
More information Australia, 7–0 ...
Attendance: 20,876
Referee: Ahrol Risqullaev (Uzbekistan)
More information Lebanon, 0–0 ...
Attendance: 200

More information Bangladesh, 1–1 ...
Attendance: 6,297
Referee: Kim Dae-yong (South Korea)
More information Palestine, 0–1 ...
Attendance: 14,537
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

More information Australia, 2–0 ...
Attendance: 27,026
More information Palestine, 5–0 ...

More information Bangladesh, 0–1 ...
Attendance: 5,195
Referee: Nasrullo Kabirov (Tajikistan)
More information Lebanon, 0–5 ...
Attendance: 25,023

More information Bangladesh, 0–2 ...
Attendance: 5,227
Referee: Jansen Foo (Singapore)
More information Palestine, 0–0 ...

More information Australia, 5–0 ...
Attendance: 18,261
Referee: Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)
More information Lebanon, 4–0 ...

Goalscorers

There were 331 goals scored in 107 matches, for an average of 3.09 goals per match.

7 goals

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Discipline

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A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following infractions:[19]

  • Receiving a red card (red card suspensions may be extended for serious infractions)
  • Receiving two yellow cards in two different matches (yellow card suspensions are carried forward to further qualification rounds, but not the finals or any other future international matches)

The following suspensions were served during the second round:

More information Team, Player ...

Notes

  1. Saudi Arabia had already qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup as tournament hosts and competed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  2. Afghanistan played their home matches at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Afghan conflict.
  3. The hosting duties for the matches between North Korea and Syria were swapped on 2 November 2023.[6]
  4. Syria played their home matches at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Syrian civil war.
  5. Japan were awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit, after North Korea refused to host the match due to "a malignant infectious disease" spreading in Japan.[8][9]
  6. Following the incident over North Korea's refusal to host home game against Japan, North Korea played their home matches in a neutral ground, per Syria's request.[10]
  7. Indonesia and Philippines swapped their fixtures on 31 October 2023, due to Indonesia hosting the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[11]
  8. Yemen played their home matches at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Yemeni civil war.
  9. Nepal played their final two home matches at a neutral venue due to the Dasharath Rangasala failing to meet FIFA standard.[13]
  10. Lebanon played all their home matches at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Gaza war.[14][15]
  11. Palestine played all their home matches at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Gaza war.[14][16]
  12. Bangladesh was originally scheduled to host Palestine on 21 March 2024 with Palestine hosting the return fixture on 26 March in Kuwait. However, the order was later reversed due to Kuwait hosting Qatar also on 26 March.[17]
  13. Lebanon played this home match in Australia due to the ongoing Gaza war.[18]

References

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