Fasten your seatbelts, AFC is all set to start its two-year-long 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process!
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, and as a result, there will be more opportunities for teams from Asia to qualify for the tournament. This is a great chance for these teams to make their mark on the world stage. The first round of the AFC Qualification Route begins on 12th October and goes on till 17th. Scroll down to read more on the format, teams, and more. Also Read: Mesut Ozil Tattoo: How Has Ozil Landed In Fresh New Controversy?
2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Qualifying First Round
Format
The First Round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Qualifying will feature twenty teams. The teams belong to the Asian rank of 27-46. The twenty teams are divided into ten match-ups. Each team will play a home-and-away over two legs. The winner of each game advances to the second round.
Teams
Southeast Asia: Indonesia (150), Singapore (158), Myanmar (160), Cambodia (176), Laos (187), Brunei-Darussalam (190), Timor-Leste (192).
Central Asia: Afghanistan (157).
East Asia: Hong Kong (149), Chinese Taipei (153), Macau (182), Mongolia (183), Guam (203).
South Asia: Maldives (155), Nepal (175), Bhutan (185), Bangladesh (189), Pakistan (201), Sri Lanka (204).
Western Asia: Yemen (156).
Schedule
| Match | 1st leg | Venue | 2nd leg | Venue |
| Afghanistan vs Mongolia | 12th October 2024 | – | 17th October 2024 | MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar |
| Maldives vs Bangladesh | 12th October 2024 | National Football Stadium, Male | 17th October 2024 | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka |
| Singapore vs Guam | 12th October 2024 | – | 17th October 2024 | GFA National Training Center, Dededo |
| Yemen vs Sri Lanka | 12th October 2024 | – | 17th October 2024 | – |
| Myanmar vs Macau | 12th October 2024 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon | 17th October 2024 | Estadio Campo Desportivo, Taipa |
| Cambodia vs Pakistan | 12th October 2024 | Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh | 17th October 2024 | – |
| Chinese Taipei vs Timor-Leste | 12th October 2024 | National Stadium Kaohsiung | 17th October 2024 | National Stadium, Dili |
| Indonesia vs Brunei | 12th October 2024 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta | 17th October 2024 | Hassanal Bolkiah National Satdium, Bandar Seri Bagawan |
| Hong Kong vs Bhutan | 12th October 2024 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong | 17th October 2024 | Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu |
| Nepal vs Laos | 12th October 2024 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu | 17th October 2024 | New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane |
Also Read: Top Five Goalkeepers with Most clean sheets in La Liga History
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