The second round of double qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup concluded on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, marking the beginning of two new chapters in Asian football.
2027 Asian Cup Qualification:
- 18 teams secured their spots in the 2027 Asian Cup by finishing first or second in the second-round groups.
- These 18 teams will also participate in the decisive third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Third Round of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers:
- In this stage, the 18 qualified teams will compete in a group system, with each group containing 6 teams.
- The top two teams from each group will directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
- For the first time in history, the Asian continent will have 8 seats at the World Cup.
- The remaining 6 teams will vie for the last two spots through a fourth round.
- The fourth round will feature two groups, each comprising 3 teams. The top team from each group will secure direct qualification to the World Cup.
Draw Date:
- The draw for the third round of the 2026 Asian World Cup qualifiers is scheduled for Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation.
QUALIFIES TEAMS
The following teams finished first or second in their respective second-round groups:
Australia
Bahrain
China
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Japan
Jordan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
North Korea
Oman
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Draw
The seeding for the draw was based on the FIFA Men’s World Rankings on 20 June 2024 (shown in parentheses below).
Each group will contain one team from each of the six pots.
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (17) Iran (20) South Korea (22) | Australia (23) Qatar (35) Iraq (55) | Saudi Arabia (56) Uzbekistan (62) Jordan (68) |
| Pot 4 | Pot 5 | Pot 6 |
| United Arab Emirates (69) Oman (76) Bahrain (81) | China (88) Palestine (95) Kyrgyzstan (101) | North Korea (110) Indonesia (134) Kuwait (137) |
Best case Scenario for Iran
While teams in pots 2 and 3 can spring surprises for the three leading Teams, Japan, Iran and Korea Republic, the other teams are by no means easy opponents either. However, based on ranking, location and current form, Team Melli can do with a comfortable group. The best that Iran can get in the draw next week is this group.
IRAN – IRAQ – JORDAN -BAHRAIN -KYRGYSZTAN- KUWAIT.
These teams are quite familiar for Iran and the biggest advantage will be travelling time. Three of the teams are neighbours, while the other two (Jordan and Kyrgzysran) are 2 1/2 hrs to flying time Amman while Bishkek is 3 hrs 15 minutes.
In case Iran gets North Korea and/or Australia, it will be a logistical nightmare.