FIFA World Cup
The Asian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for national teams of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). AFC teams have been allocated eight direct qualifying slots and one inter-confederation play-off slot.
The qualification format was announced on 1 August 2022, having been revamped to fit the increased finals allocation of eight direct qualifiers and one play-off qualifier:
- First round: 20 teams (ranked 27–46) played home-and-away over two legs. The ten winners advanced to the second round. The best loser qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification third round, while the remaining teams qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification – play-off round.
- Second round: 36 teams (ranked 1–26 and ten first-round winners) are divided into nine groups of four teams. The teams will play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The nine group winners and group runners-up advance to the third round and automatically qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The remaining teams qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification third round.
- Third round: 18 teams which advance from the second round are 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 qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup, the third and fourth-placed teams advance to the fourth round.
- Fourth round: Six third and fourth-placed teams from the third round are divided into two groups of three teams each. The teams will play against each other once in a neutral venue. The winners of each group qualify for the World Cup, and the runners-up of each group advance to the fifth round.
- Fifth round: The group runners-up in the fourth round will compete home-and-away over two legs to determine the Asian representation at the inter-confederation play-offs.
FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers(AFC)
 |
| Confederation |
Direct slots |
Play-off slots |
Teams started |
Teams eliminated |
Teams can still qualify |
Teams qualified |
Qualifying start date |
Qualifying next match date |
Qualifying end date |
| AFC |
8 |
1 |
46 |
28 |
18 |
0 |
12 October 2023 |
5 September 2024 |
November 2025 |
| CAF |
9 |
1 |
53 |
0 |
53 |
0 |
15 November 2023 |
March 2025 |
November 2025 |
| CONCACAF |
3+3 |
2 |
32+3 |
2 |
30 |
0+3 |
22 March 2024 |
4 June 2025 |
November 2025 |
| CONMEBOL |
6 |
1 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
7 September 2023 |
September 2024 |
September 2025 |
| OFC |
1 |
1 |
11 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
September 2024 |
September 2024 |
March 2025 |
| UEFA |
16 |
0 |
55 |
0 |
55 |
0 |
21 March 2025 |
21 March 2025 |
31 March 2026 |
| Play-offs |
2 |
— |
(6) |
0 |
(2) |
0 |
March 2026 |
March 2026 |
March 2026 |
| Total |
45+3 |
6 |
207+3 |
30 |
177 |
0+3 |
7 September 2023 |
11 June 2024 |
March 2026 |
Current stage (second round)
Main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
