AFC Announces Qualification Format for Asia's Road to FIFA World Cup 2026
Expanded Tournament Structure and New Joint Qualification Round
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee has approved the qualification format for Asia's Road to the FIFA World Cup 2026, introducing an expanded tournament structure and a new Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1. The FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification tournament will comprise four rounds, including the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1, the Second Round, the Third Round, and the Fourth Round.
In the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1, 22 teams will compete in two groups of 11 teams each. The top team from each group will advance to the Second Round. The remaining 18 teams will compete in the Second Round, which will also serve as the second round of qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The top 12 teams from the Second Round will advance to the Third Round.
The Third Round will feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Fourth Round. The Fourth Round will be a single round-robin tournament, with the top two teams directly qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The third-placed team will advance to the Inter-Confederation Play-offs.
The AFC Executive Committee also approved the draw procedures for the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1, which will be held on July 27, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Second Round draw will be held on August 8, 2023, in Zurich, Switzerland.
The AFC's expanded qualification format aims to provide more opportunities for Asian teams to compete at the highest level and showcase the growing strength of football in the region.
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