Can India Qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 | AFC Qualification for the FIFA World Cup Explained
6,170The Asian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in Canada, the United States and Mexico for national teams who are members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). A total of 8 direct slots in the final tournament are available for AFC teams, as well as 1 inter-confederation play-off slot.
The qualification process involves five rounds; the first two double as the qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
The qualification format was announced on 1 August 2022. On 5 July 2023, the number of teams competing in the first round was reduced from 22 to 18. The qualification structure was revamped to fit the eight-team allocation
First round: 18 teams (ranked 28–45) will play home-and-away over two legs. The nine winners advance to the second round.
Second round: 36 teams (ranked 1–27 and nine 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 AFC Asian Cup.
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.
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