The start of qualifying began in June 2019 where the Asian teams that usually represent the AFC confederation contested the AFC first round. There were some really high scoring games especially in the Malaysia and Timor Leste game. The first round is a two legged affair.
The draw for the second round of Asian regional qualifying takes place on the 17th of July 2019.
These qualification matches are also being combined with the qualifying for the Asian Cup competition in 2023, one year after the most prestigious tourney.
The second leg game between ‘Macau’ and ‘Sri Lanka’ was cancelled due to safety issues following the Easter attacks that plighted Sri Lanka. FIFA are yet to confirm of a rearrangement.
July 2019 First Round Update
The first round tie between the two teams of Macau and Sri Lanka has been dealt with, the outcome is that Sri Lanka got awarded an automatic 3-0 win by FIFA due to Macau not fielding a team based on safety reasons.
July 2019 Second round draw information
On the 17th July, there will be a draw for the second phase of Asian World Cup qualifying.
Teams will be split into eight groups consisting of five teams in each division. It is a round robin format, (a league) where teams play each other home and away with the group winners and the best four second place finishes advancing to the third round of the qualification process.
Seeding for the draw is based on the FIFA World Rankings, the lowest ranked Asian nation in participation is Sri Lanka, who are ranked 201st in the world out of 211.
The draw for the second round has been made in the Malaysian capital, ‘Kuala Lumpour’. Group winners will advance to the third round where as the four best runners up will advance too.
China PR have been drawn again with Syria as they were in qualification for Russia 2018. Can Syria go further than the play off against Australia, when Australia won and played Honduras in the inter-confederation play off?
Second Round
The Asian second round of qualification is underway, where the winners of each group advance to the third round which is the one where group winners qualify for the main tournament.
DPR Korea (North) won their first game 2-0 against Lebanon in Pyongyang. North Korea’s last world cup appearance was back in 2010, when they scored a goal against Brazil in a 2-1 defeat. Then went on to get thrashed 7-0 by Portugal.
Hosts Qatar, are participating in qualification but their results aren’t important in terms of qualifying as they’re automatically in the finals for being the hosts.
Qatar drew 0-0 against India in Doha on match day 2.
Singapore have taken just four points from their two opening games in group D. They drew with Yemen, 2-2. Recently they beat Palenstine 2-1 in the island city state.
(C) Getty Images – Singapore national anthem before their opening group game against Yemen.
North Korea won their second game against the team that was given a defaulted victory over Macau, Sri Lanka. In Colombo, DPR Korea were 1-0 victors with a goal from Yong-Il Kim.
IR Iran induced a hefty defeat for Cambodia by taking all three points on matchday ‘3’ after thrashing Cambodia, 14-0 in Tehran.
In other of the Asian qualifiers, there are some big wins for Korea Republic beating Sri Lanka, 8-0, China PR winning 7-0 against Guam, Australia put five past Nepal without reply also the same score line in favour of Uzbekistan when they played Yemen, Kyrgyzstan put seven past Mynamar whilst Japan slotted in six times against Mongolia, finishing off with the UAE emphatically beating Indonesia 5-0 in Dubai.
Kyrgyzstan v Mynamar (Burma)
Korea Republic v Sri Lanka
Match days 4, 5 and 6
Matchday 4,5 and 6 saw goals in the Asian qualifying for the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup
Syria beat Guam and China PR to strengthen their lead at the top of the Round 2 table, with 2-1 and 1-0 victories respectively. They are one game away from qualifying for the third round, this will happen if they win in Male against Maldives and Philippines fail to beat Guam.
In group B, Australia produced a 7-0 rout against Chinese Taipei. Then beating Jordan with a modest 1-0 scoreline a month later. Kuwait trounced Chinese Taipei, 9-0 in Kuwait City. Jordan thrashed Chinese Taipei in Amman, 5-0.
Group C, Iraq lead in the standings with collecting 6 points in three games since the day, their neighbours Iran beat Cambodia 14-0, Iran have lost their games since then.
Hong Kong and Cambodia, hug the bottom two potions in the round 2 table for Group C.
Group D is much more tighter with first and fifth separated by just five points in a league with 8 games each. Bottom nation, Palestine have three games left, nine points on offer, anything still can happen.
Singapore beat Yemen 2-1 in Muharraq
Group E
Qatar are top but they don’t necessary have to worry about qualification as they are automatically there by default for being the hosts.
Group F
Japan are looking to qualify for the World Cup in consecutive tournaments. They’re top of their division, five points clear of the Kyrgyz Republic. Japan have a game in hand on them too.
Group G
Indonesia are all but out of contention, they must win their remaining games and hope other results go their way and would need to have a 15 goal swing.
Vietnam, are in charge of the division with 11 points.
Group H
North and South Korea, drew their match in Pyongnang 0-0 and DPR Korea (North) lost their next outing 3-1 against leaders, Turkmeinstein.
DPR Korea can still qualify, though their recent appearance at a World Cup was nine years ago.
Qualification returns in 2020 after a lengthy spell away due to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
Qatar v Bangladesh in Group E
Qatar beat Bangladesh 5-0 in the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium (Doha) which was the hosts, sixth game of the campaign where the winner of the group advances to the next round in qualifying for the 2022 tourney. Though Qatar are automatically there, as the tournament hosts, these games are still infecting the Asian Cup competition.
Football returns, with that comes another round of World Cup qualifying action. Yesterday saw Tajikistan beat Mongolia with a healthy 3-0 victory.
Tajikistan are now two points behind leaders, Japan having played two games more. The Kyrgyz Republic can reclaim second with a win in Japan in June.
AFC Update 30th May 2021
Japan recently crushed Myanmar, 10-0 in Chiba during their group F encounter.
That game ensured Japan remains undefeated in qualifying and secures their place in the next round as well as not having conceded any goals so far.
Iraq and Bahrain are looking good in the top two (respectively) in group C. Iraq have the advantage of a two point cushion but with three points for a win, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll come out on top.
North Korea national team
The Korea DPR, (North Korea) have withdrawn from qualifying which means, any results from teams who have played Korea DPR, are exterminated. This has hurt teams such as, Turkmenistan, as their big wins against Korea DPR have been destroyed which means, they have dropped to third in their group.
China 7 Guam 0 (Suzhou)
China PR increase their hold on second place in group A, five points behind leaders Syria (who were knocked out by Australia in a play off in 2017). The Chinese’ goals came from; Wu Lei, who scored twice in the 20th and 55th minute, Jin Jingdao who scored in the 59th minute, Wu Xi slotted home in the 61st minute, Elkeson hit the target in the 65th minute and Alan bagging two goals in the 83rd and 87th minute.
Guam’s next game is against the Phillipines who are also in contention for the second berth. Whereas, China PR’s next opponents are the Maldives. (Guam are already eliminated from the World Cup qualification)
7th June 2021
Bahrain thrashed Cambodia 8-0 on matchday six but lost three nil today against second placed Iran in group C.
The game between the two Koreas was cancelled after North Korea had pulled out of qualifying. Australia comfortably beat Chinese Taipei 5-1 whereas, Singapore succumbed to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan who are still in contention for an automatic place into the third round. Japan beat their close challengers, Tajikistan with a 4-1 scoreline.
Syria have qualified for the next round after winning 3-0 against Guam. Syria are currently undefeated. They join Japan in the next round with only ten free spaces up for grabs. The third round will be a home and away round robin format, with two groups of six teams. The top two of both groups qualifies for Qatar.
The sides that finish in third place in the third round, will battle each other in the fourth round with the winner of that tie, facing the inter-continental play offs.
(C) The AFC.com (Australia v Chinese Taipei)
19/06/2021
Second round completed!
The Maldives drew 1-1 with the Phillipines, China PR beat an already qualified Syria 3-1. On the 11th June, Iran thrashed Cambodia 10-0 in Bahrain. Speaking of Bahrain, they comfortably beat Hong Kong 4-0. South Korea won their final game 1-0 against Lebanon, Turkmenistan had their final game cancelled against Korea DPR as Korea had pulled out of qualifying due to COVID fears.
Japan handsomely thrashed Kyrgyzstan 5-0 whereas Myanmar were defeated 4-0 by Tajikistan.
Third Round
The Asian qualifying has now advanced to the third round after the completion of the second.
12 teams have secured their place in the third round of qualification and are awaiting their fate as a draw will be made on the 1st July in Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpar. Six of these teams will be placed in one group whereas the remaining six teams will be put into a second group.
Of the twelve nations, there are seven group winners with five runners up, As Qatar qualify automatically because they are the hosts of the world cup, their place is offered to the next best placed team in their respective second round group, which is ‘Oman’.
The format for the third round is as follows;
- Each team plays each other twice (home and away)
- Top two of each group qualifies for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals
- Third place of each group heads through the play offs.(Fourth round & Inter-confederation)
The twelve countries to contest round three are as follows;
- Japan
- Iraq
- Oman
- Vietnam
- Australia
- Syria
- UAE (United Arab Emirates)
- Lebanon
- China PR
- Korea Republic
- Saudi Arabia
- IR Iran
Latest news: 16th July 2021
The first ‘third round’ games will kick off in the opening days of September this year. There is potential for some debutants to a World Cup. Vietnam, Oman, Syria and Lebanon.
Fun fact: There is a part of Oman within the UAE, simple right? Let’s get a little more confusing, there is a part of UAE in Oman that lies in the UAE. Simple answer is, enclaves.
The top two of each group in round three, automatically qualifies for Qatar 2022. The third placed teams from both groups, will battle each other in a play off to determine, who will play in the inter-confederation play off match.
Latest Qualifying update: 3rd September 2021
The third round of world cup qualification kicked off for the Asian contingent. Syria are looking to get further than what they did in qualification for the 2018 tournament. Though their opening defeat to Iran will not help this of course.
Syria lies bottom of group A which has South Korea, UAE, Iraq, Lebanon and current leaders, Iran. Iran were the only winners from match day one and Syria was the only loser as the other teams drew 0-0. (Standings are placed currently due to teams disciplinary records)
Oman with a major upset in group B, beating 2018 World Cup last 16 finalist, Japan, with an opening day 1-0 victory. Australia and Saudi Arabia go above Oman in the table due to goal difference as they both had scored three times in their games against, Vietnam and China PR respectively. Saudi Arabia had conceded once in their match.
Updated on 26th September 2021
Second round of games in the third round of qualification have taken place.
South Korea wins and takes them into the top two which is an automatic berth for the World Cup. Syria drew with the UAE which puts UAE into third place on two points. A third place team enters the play offs. Iran were the high goal scorers in group A, winning three nil against Iraq. Iran are top of the table and four points clear of non automatic qualification.
In Group B, three 1-0 wins from Australia, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Oman edges third place from Japan due to head to head points.
8th October 2021 Latest news
Syria’s task of reaching the playoffs has become more precarious, more difficult after yesterday’s 2-1 defeat against South Korea. They currently reside at the bottom of group A with seven games to go.
Iran, South Korea are in the prime positions for automatic qualification for Qatar 2022. There are still games to play so this could all change. People’s republic of Korea won 2-1 against 2017 AFC play off finalist, Syria. Iran beat the UAE by a goal to nil in Dubai.
Saudi Arabia pulled off a shock 1-0 victory against Japan which puts Arabia second in the other group in round three. They are level on points with Australia but the latter has a more superior goal difference.
Vietnam lay bottom of group B on zero points but with seven to go, this could change.
13th October 2021 latest!
World ranked 97th, Lebanon took made a dent in to Syria’s qualification hopes, with four games been played. Lebanon took a 3-2 victory over Syria in Amman (Jordan).
Elsewhere in group A, two draws as leaders Iraq are held away in Dubai in the United Arab of Emirates. South Korea and Iran was the other game in the group.
Group B of round three saw Japan pick up their second victory against Australia after two consecutive losses, they also lost their first match of the campaign to the underdogs of Oman.
Speaking of Oman, they put three past without reply against Vietnam whilst Saudi Arabia edges out China PR with a 3-2 win.
13th November 2021 Update
We are halfway through the third round of the Asian qualification segment towards a spot at the FIFA World Cup.
Matchday Five:
Syria remains bottom despite picking up a point against Iraq in Qatar. Fellow group A teams, Lebanon miss out on a win as Iran take all three points in a 2-1 victory. South Korea came out on top in a one nil win at home against the United Arab Emirates.
In the other group, Australia were held to a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia in Sydney where as there was another draw but in Sharjah (UAE) as China PR drew 1-1 with Oman. Japan were the sole winners of group B on match day five as they won with a seventeenth minute goal to beat Vietnam.
2022 Update:
Travelled into the World Cup year of 2022. Qualification for the biggest football competition resumes as Australia thrashes Vietnam 4-0. UAE tightens their grip for that prestigious third place that can take them into a play off, with a 2-0 win over Syria.
Manchester United’s youth player, Zidane Iqbal had recently been called up for Iraq in what would be his first senior international call up. His Iraq side lost 1-0 to Iran. Iran are confirmed occupants in the World Cup 2022. Women were allowed to attend this match.
March 24th 2022
Asian Qualification – South Korea, Iran, Japan and Saudi Arabia have all qualified for Qatar 2022. Australia have guaranteed a place in the fourth round, who they will play off against is yet to be determined.
UAE, Iraq and Lebanon can still finish third which would be the position required to advance into the fourth round to face off against Australia.
Syria won 3-0 against Lebanon but Syria are eliminated already from qualification. Iraq took away a 1-0 win against UAE. UAE currently lie third in their pool.
Australia lost 2-0 against Japan.
March 29th 2022 – Third Round update!
Despite losing 1-0 to Saudi Arabia, Australia had enough to advance to the fourth round of the AFC qualifying.
Japan drew 1-1 in Saitama whilst, Oman beat China PR 2-0 in Muscat.
In group A, United Arab Emirates cemented their place in the fourth round with a 1-0 victory over already qualified, South Korea in Dubai.
Syria drew with Iraq, 1-1 whereas Iran beat Lebanon 2-0 in Mashhad.
The next stage is the ‘fourth round’, in here we have the teams that finished third in their respective third round group. Where the winner of the fourth round shall advance into the intercontinental play offs.
Group A representatives, UAE will take on group B’s, Australia.
The winner will play the fifth placed side in South American qualifying which is currently, Peru.
Fourth Round AFC Qualifier June 2022
With the World Cup looming ever closer, the fight for the remaining spots gets even tenser. Teams who finished second from Group A and Group B in round three were put into a play off game where the winner would face the fifth team from South Americas qualifying which eventually was Peru.
It was held in Qatar between, United Arab Emirates and Australia.
Australia edged out the UAE with a 2-1 victory in the Al Rayyan Stadium with goals coming from; Jackson Irvine & Adjin Hrustic. Irvine scored first in the 53rd minute before an UAE equaliser which was scored by Caio Canedo of Al Ain FC. Hrustic confirmed the win for the Aussies on the 84th minute to send Australia through to the inter confederation play offs against Peru, where the winner heads to the World Cup,
Qatar 2022 World Cup 