# 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round

The second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC qualification, which also served as the second round of 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification, began on 16 November 2023 and was completed on 11 June 2024.

## Format

A total of 36 teams were drawn into nine groups of four to play home-and-away round-robin matches. They included the 26 teams which received byes to this round, and the 10 winners from the first round.
The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the third round and qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The third and fourth place teams advanced to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualification.

## Seeding

The draw for the second round was held on 27 July 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The seeding was based on the FIFA World Rankings of July 2023 (shown in parentheses below). The identities of the first round winners were not known at the time of the draw.
Note: Bolded teams qualified for the third round of World Cup qualifying.
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
| Japan (20) Iran (22) Australia (27) South Korea (28) Saudi Arabia (54) Qatar (59) Iraq (70) United Arab Emirates (72) Oman (73) | Uzbekistan (74) China (80) Jordan (82) Bahrain (86) Syria (94) Vietnam (95) Palestine (96) Kyrgyzstan (97) India (99) | Lebanon (100) Tajikistan (110) Thailand (113) North Korea (115) Philippines (135) Malaysia (136) Kuwait (137) Turkmenistan (138) | Hong Kong (149)$^†$ Indonesia (150)$^†$ Chinese Taipei (153)$^†$ Yemen (156)$^{†‡}$ Afghanistan (157)$^†$ Singapore (158)$^†$ Myanmar (160)$^†$ Nepal (175)$^†$ Bangladesh (189)$^†$ Pakistan (201)$^†$ |
$^†$ Teams whose identity was not known at the time of the draw. $^‡$ Team moved to Pot 3 after the other Pot 4 teams had been drawn into groups; subsequently drawn at random from Pot 3.

## Schedule

The match schedule was as follows.
| Matchday | Date(s) |
| Matchday 1 | 16 November 2023 |
| Matchday 2 | 21 November 2023 |
| Matchday 3 | 21 March 2024 |
| Matchday 4 | 26 March 2024 |
| Matchday 5 | 6 June 2024 |
| Matchday 6 | 11 June 2024 |

## Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | Qatar | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 | +15 | 16 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | 8–1 |
| 2 | Kuwait | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | 1–2 | — | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| 3 | India | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 5 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 0–0 | — | 1–2 |
| 4 | Afghanistan | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 5 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–0 | 0–4 | 0–0 | — |

## Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | Japan | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | +24 | 18 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–0 | 5–0 | 5–0 |
| 2 | North Korea | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 9 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | 0–3 | — | 1–0 | 4–1 |
| 3 | Syria | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 7 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–5 | 1–0 | — | 7–0 |
| 4 | Myanmar | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 28 | −25 | 1 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–5 | 1–6 | 1–1 | — |
* ↑ Japan were awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit, after North Korea refused to host the match citing concerns about a disease spreading in Japan.

## Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | South Korea | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | +19 | 16 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
| 2 | China | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | 0–3 | — | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| 3 | Thailand | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 |
| 4 | Singapore | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 24 | −19 | 1 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–7 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — |
* 1 2 Head-to-head points: China 4, Thailand 1.

## Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | Oman | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 13 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| 2 | Kyrgyzstan | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 11 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| 3 | Malaysia | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 10 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–2 | 4–3 | — | 3–1 |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 17 | −15 | 0 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | — |

## Group E

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | Iran | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 4 | +12 | 14 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 0–0 | 5–0 | 4–0 |
| 2 | Uzbekistan | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 14 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 |
| 3 | Turkmenistan | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 2 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–0 |
| 4 | Hong Kong | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 15 | −11 | 2 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | — |

## Group F

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | Iraq | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | +15 | 18 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 5–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | 0–2 | — | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Vietnam | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 6 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–1 | 0–3 | — | 3–2 |
| 4 | Philippines | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 1 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |

## Group G

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | Jordan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 4 | +12 | 13 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 0–2 | 3–0 | 7–0 |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 13 | World Cup qualifying third round | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | 4–0 |
| 3 | Tajikistan | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 8 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–0 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26 | −25 | 0 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–6 | — |
* ↑ Saudi Arabia already qualified for the Asian Cup as the host nation and only competed to qualify for the World Cup.

## Group H

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 16 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 |
| 2 | Bahrain | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 11 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | 0–2 | — | 0–0 | 3–0 |
| 3 | Yemen | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 5 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 |
| 4 | Nepal | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 20 | −18 | 1 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | — |

## Group I

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | |
| 1 | Australia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | +22 | 18 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | — | 5–0 | 2–0 | 7–0 |
| 2 | Palestine | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup | 0–1 | — | 0–0 | 5–0 |
| 3 | Lebanon | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–5 | 0–0 | — | 4–0 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 20 | −19 | 1 | Asian Cup qualifying third round | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Goalscorers

There were 331 goals scored in 107 matches, for an average of 3.09 goals per match.
7 goals
* Almoez Ali
* Son Heung-min
6 goals
* Ayase Ueda
5 goals
* Wu Lei
* Mehdi Taremi
* Musa Al-Taamari
4 goals
* Kusini Yengi
* Sardar Azmoun
* Aymen Hussein
* Ali Olwan
* Jong Il-gwan
* Saleh Al-Shehri
* Lee Kang-in
* Suphanat Mueanta
3 goals
* Jamie Maclaren
* Ritsu Dōan
* Yazan Al-Naimat
* Joel Kojo
* Hassan Maatouk
* Ri Jo-guk
* Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri
* Oday Dabbagh
* Firas Al-Buraikan
* Omar Khribin
* Sultan Adil
* Fábio Lima
* Ali Mabkhout
* Eldor Shomurodov
* Oston Urunov
2 goals
* Mitchell Duke
* Craig Goodwin
* Harry Souttar
* Sayed Baqer
* Hossein Kanaanizadegan
* Ramin Rezaeian
* Mohanad Ali
* Ali Jasim
* Keito Nakamura
* Kōki Ogawa
* Shabaib Al-Khaldi
* Mohammad Daham
* Kai Merk
* Dion Cools
* Omar Al-Malki
* Shehab Qunbar
* Patrick Reichelt
* Akram Afif
* Ahmed Al-Rawi
* Mostafa Meshaal
* Faris Ramli
* Hwang Hee-chan
* Moayad Ajan
* Alaa Al Dali
* Amadoni Kamolov
* Shahrom Samiev
* Rustam Soirov
* Supachok Sarachat
* Ruslan Mingazow
* Harib Abdalla
* Ali Saleh
* Otabek Shukurov
* Nguyễn Tiến Linh
* Phạm Tuấn Hải
* Mohammed Al-Dahi
1 goal
* Rahmat Akbari
* Sharif Mukhammad
* Amredin Sharifi
* Keanu Baccus
* Brandon Borrello
* Martin Boyle
* Ajdin Hrustic
* Nestory Irankunda
* John Iredale
* Kye Rowles
* Adam Taggart
* Mahdi Abduljabbar
* Ismail Abdullatif
* Kamil Al-Aswad
* Mahdi Al-Humaidan
* Ebrahim Al-Khattal
* Ali Madan
* Mohamed Marhoon
* Abdulla Yusuf Helal
* Shekh Morsalin
* Fernandinho
* Wang Shangyuan
* Wei Shihao
* Zhang Yuning
* Wu Yen-shu
* Yu Yao-hsing
* Everton Camargo
* Ma Hei Wai
* Anthony Pinto
* Wong Wai
* Lallianzuala Chhangte
* Sunil Chhetri
* Manvir Singh
* Thom Haye
* Jay Idzes
* Egy Maulana Vikri
* Ragnar Oratmangoen
* Shayne Pattynama
* Saddil Ramdani
* Rizky Ridho
* Ramadhan Sananta
* Mehdi Ghayedi
* Mohammad Mohebi
* Omid Noorafkan
* Amir Al-Ammari
* Ali Al-Hamadi
* Hussein Ali
* Youssef Amyn
* Zidane Iqbal
* Osama Rashid
* Bashar Resan
* Zaid Tahseen
* Mao Hosoya
* Daichi Kamada
* Takefusa Kubo
* Takumi Minamino
* Yuki Soma
* Yukinari Sugawara
* Ao Tanaka
* Mohammad Abu Zrayq
* Noor Al-Rawabdeh
* Saed Al-Rosan
* Ibrahim Sadeh
* Eid Al Rashidi
* Athbi Saleh
* Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov
* Gulzhigit Alykulov
* Ernist Batyrkanov
* Khristiyan Brauzman
* Valery Kichin
* Kimi Merk
* Eldiyar Zarypbekov
* Kayrat Zhyrgalbek uulu
* Nader Matar
* Majed Osman
* Adib Raop
* Faisal Halim
* Paulo Josué
* Darren Lok
* Safawi Rasid
* Soe Moe Kyaw
* Wai Lin Aung
* Win Naing Tun
* Sanjeeb Bista
* Gillespye Jung Karki
* Choe Ju-song
* Han Kwang-song
* Ri Hyong-jin
* Ri Il-song
* Mohammed Al-Ghafri
* Muhsen Al-Ghassani
* Issam Al-Sabhi
* Mataz Saleh
* Rahis Nabi
* Michel Termanini
* Kevin Ingreso
* Yusuf Abdurisag
* Tameem Al-Abdullah
* Hassan Al-Haydos
* Ahmed Alaaeldin
* Yousef Aymen
* Salem Al-Dawsari
* Musab Al-Juwayr
* Abdulrahman Ghareeb
* Ali Lajami
* Abdullah Radif
* Shawal Anuar
* Ikhsan Fandi
* Jacob Mahler
* Bae Jun-ho
* Cho Gue-sung
* Hwang Ui-jo
* Joo Min-kyu
* Jung Seung-hyun
* Lee Jae-sung
* Park Jin-seop
* Omar Al Somah
* Ibrahim Hesar
* Vahdat Hanonov
* Shervoni Mabatshoev
* Ehson Panjshanbe
* Manuchekhr Safarov
* Parvizdzhon Umarbayev
* Poramet Arjvirai
* Jaroensak Wonggorn
* Sarach Yooyen
* Meýlis Durdyýew
* Şanazar Tirkişow
* Khalifa Al Hammadi
* Hazem Mohammad
* Abdullah Ramadan
* Husniddin Aliqulov
* Rustam Ashurmatov
* Khojimat Erkinov
* Sherzod Nasrullaev
* Igor Sergeev
* Nguyễn Đình Bắc
* Nguyễn Văn Toàn
* Omar Al-Dahi
* Nasser Al-Gahwashi
1 own goal
* Pan Wen-chieh (against Oman)
* Jordi Amat (against Iraq)
* Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov (against Malaysia)
* Khristiyan Brauzman (against Malaysia)
* Erzhan Tokotayev (against Oman)
* Bassel Jradi (against Australia)
* Thaer Krouma (against Japan)
* Abdulla Idrees (against Yemen)
* Harwan Al-Zubaidi (against Bahrain)