Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Asia’s remaining six contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will learn their fate next week when the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Playoffs draw takes place on Thursday, July 17 at 3pm at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.
With six of the continent’s eight direct spots for the expanded 48-team tournament already secured after the third qualifying round, the remaining teams — Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — now prepare for a last-chance showdown in October (8–14).
The upcoming draw will split the six teams into two groups of three, with only the group winners advancing directly to the World Cup. Matches will be played in a single round-robin format at centralised venues, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia confirmed as hosts.
Diverse Stakes for Six Nations
While Oman chases a first-ever appearance at football’s biggest stage, Indonesia, Iraq, and the UAE are aiming for a return after previous qualifications. Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both World Cup 2022 participants, are eyeing consecutive appearances.
Official Seedings Revealed
The AFC confirmed the teams will be divided into three seeding pots based on the FIFA Men’s World Rankings (as of June 13, 2025):
- Pot 1: Qatar (Rank 53), Saudi Arabia (58)
- Pot 2: Iraq (59), United Arab Emirates (66)
- Pot 3: Oman (79), Indonesia (118)
As hosts, Qatar and Saudi Arabia will be placed in separate groups.
One Final Shot
Following the group stage in October, the runners-up from each group will face off in a two-legged playoff on November 13 and 18. The winner of this knockout tie will advance to the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament, representing Asia for a final chance at qualification.
A draw to determine the host nation for each leg of the knockout round will be held after the conclusion of the group stage draw. The draw ceremony will be streamed live on July 17. Stay tuned to the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 channels for full coverage and updates.
