Heading into the second international break of the 2024-25 football schedule, 18 member nations of the AFC are fighting it out for six automatic spots at the 2026 World Cup.
Battling through the first and second rounds of qualifying, the remaining countries find themselves in three groups of six, with the top two in each after 10 matches earning a spot on football’s grandest stage in North America.
Teams placing third and fourth in their respective sections will advance into the fourth round of AFC qualifying, where there will be another chance to secure a spot at the World Cup.
Those countries who end up in either fifth or sixth place of their groups at the conclusion of this round will be out of contention, bringing a premature end to their 2026 dreams.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up the current state of play in AFC World Cup qualifying, looking at the standings, the upcoming fixtures in October and the story so far in each of the three groups.
© Imago
1. Uzbekistan – 6pts (P2 W2 D0 L0 GD +2)
2. Iran – 6pts (P2 W2 D0 L0 GD +2)
3. United Arab Emirates – 3pts (P2 W1 D0 L1 GD +1)
4. North Korea – 1pt (P2 W0 D1 L1 GD -1)
5. Qatar – 1pt (P2 W0 D1 L1 GD -2)
6. Kyrgyzstan – 0pts (P0 W0 D0 L2 GD -2)
Uzbekistan vs. Iran (10 October, 3pm | Milliy Stadion, Tashkent)
Qatar vs. Kyrgyzstan (10 October, 5pm | Al Thumama Stadium, Doha)
United Arab Emirates vs. North Korea (10 October, 5pm | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain)
Kyrgyzstan vs. North Korea (15 October, 3pm | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek)
Uzbekistan vs. United Arab Emirates (15 October, 3pm | Milliy Stadium, Tashkent)
Iran vs. Qatar (15 October, 5pm | Imam Reza Stadium, Mashhad)
STORY SO FAR
The first match of October in Group A sees two 100% records clash at Milliy Stadion in Tashkent, as Uzbekistan and 2022 World Cup participants Iran lock horns, both looking to extend their winning streaks in the third round to three matches.
Later on the same day, the section basement dwellers Qatar and Kyrgyzstan are set to meet at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, where the hosts will be targeting the match as a perfect opportunity to earn their first victory of the round as they chase down a top-two finish.
Both with a genuine shot of making football’s greatest event in North America in 2026 courtesy of the expanded tournament, United Arab Emirates and North Korea will clash at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, with the visitors recording a respectable 2-2 draw with Qatar last time out.
Arguably the standout tie of the international break in Group A, Imam Reza Stadium will host a meeting between the only two sides in this section who competed at the most recent World Cup on October 15, when high-flying Iran take on struggling Qatar.
© Imago
1. Jordan – 4pts (P2 W1 D1 L0 GD +2)
2. South Korea – 4pts (P2 W1 D1 L0 GD +2)
3. Iraq – 4pts (P2 W1 D1 L0 GD +1)
4. Kuwait – 2pts (P2 W0 D2 L0 GD 0)
5. Palestine – 1pt (P2 W0 D1 L1 GD -2)
6. Oman – 0pts (P0 W0 D0 L2 GD -3)
Jordan vs. South Korea (10 October, 3pm | Amman International Stadium, Amman)
Oman vs. Kuwait (10 October, 5pm | Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex, Muscat)
Iraq vs. Palestine (10 October, 7pm | Basra International Stadium, Basra)
South Korea vs. Iraq (15 October, 12pm | Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin)
Jordan vs. Oman (15 October, 5pm | Amman International Stadium, Amman)
Palestine vs. Kuwait (15 October, 5pm | Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar)
STORY SO FAR
Reaching the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Asian powerhouses South Korea will look to move into top spot in Group B when they visit Jordan at Amman International Stadium on October 10, with the hosts currently unbeaten in this round following a productive September camp.
Two sides battling for a top-four spot and their first wins of the section will collide at Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex later on the same day, with Oman and Kuwait both striving to make their first-ever World Cup appearances.
With South Korea the clear favourites to advance to the World Cup as group winners, Jordan will be sensing an opportunity to finish second, with the hosting of bottom side Oman on October 15 representing an ideal chance to earn three points.
Currently playing their home matches at Qatar’s Al Thumama Stadium, Palestine will round off their October schedule with a clash against Kuwait on October 15.
© Imago
1. Japan – 6pts (P2 W2 D0 L0 GD +12)
2. Saudi Arabia – 4pts (P2 W1 D1 L0 GD +1)
3. Bahrain – 3pts (P2 W1 D0 L1 GD -4)
4. Indonesia – 2pts (P2 W0 D2 L0 GD 0)
5. Australia – 1pt (P2 W0 D1 L1 GD -1)
6. China – 0pts (P0 W0 D0 L2 GD -8)
Australia vs. China (10 October, 10.10am | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Bahrain vs. Indonesia (10 October, 5pm | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa)
Saudi Arabia vs. Japan (10 October, 7pm | King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah)
Japan vs. Australia (15 October, 11.35am | Saitama Stadium, Saitama)
China vs. Indonesia (15 October, 1pm | Qingdao Youth Football Stadium, Qingdao)
Saudi Arabia vs. Bahrain (15 October, 7pm | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah)
STORY SO FAR
Arguably the biggest story of the September international break in the AFC qualifiers, Australia managed to collect just a single point across matches against section minnows Indonesia and Bahrain, ultimately leading to a change in management.
Following the resignation of long-serving head coach Graham Arnold last month, 58-cap Socceroo Tony Popovic has entered the managerial hotseat, signing a contract that runs up to the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Winner of the A-League as boss of both Western Sydney Wanderers and Perth Glory, the former Crystal Palace centre-back is hoping to bring a new energy to an Australia squad who have fallen flat at the beginning of this qualification campaign.
Elsewhere in a highly-competitive Group C, section leaders Japan and Saudi Arabia are set to lock horns at King Abdullah Sports City on October 10, with both sides knowing that a victory would allow them to take a massive step towards qualification for the World Cup.
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