AFC FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers draw Round 2 highlights: India in Group A with Asian champion Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan/Mongolia

The second round of qualifiers will have 36 teams, divided into nine groups of four teams each. The matches will be played in a home and away-format.

The top two teams from each group after the qualifiers will make it to the next round, while the rest will advance to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualification.

Group A: Qatar, India, Kuwait, Afghanistan/Mongolia

Group B: Japan, Syria, DPR Korea, Myanmar/Macau

Group C: Korea Republic, China PR, Thailand,Singapore/Guam

Group D: Oman, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei/Timor-Leste

Group E: IR Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hong Kong/China v Bhutan

Group F: Iraq, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia v Brunei Darussalam

Group G: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Tajikistan, Cambodia/Pakistan

Group H: UAE, Bahrain, Yemen/Sri Lanka, Nepal/Laos

Group I: Australia, Palestine, Lebanon, Maldives v Bangladesh

Australia

Palestine

Lebanon

Winner Pairing 2 (Maldives vs Bangladesh)

United Arab Emirates

Bahrain

Winner pairing 4 (Yemen vs Sri Lanka)

Winner pairing 10 (Nepal vs Laos)

Saudi Arabia

Jordan

Tajikistan

Winner pairing 6 (Cambodia vs Pakistan)

Iraq

Vietnam

Philippines

Winner Pairing 8 (Indonesia vs Brunei Darussalam)

Iran

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan

Winner Pairing 9 (Hong Kong vs Bhutan)

Oman

Kyrgyz Republic

Malaysia

Winner pairing 7 (Chinese Taipei vs Timor Leste)

South Korea

China

Thailand

Winner pairing 3 (Singapore vs Guam)

Japan

Syria

North Korea

Winner Pairing 5 (Myanmar vs Macau)

Qatar

India

Kuwait

Winner Pairing 1 (Afghanistan vs Mongolia)

AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John begins with his opening address.

Pot 1: Japan (20), Iran (22), Australia (27), South Korea (28), Saudi Arabia (54), Qatar (59), Iraq (70), United Arab Emirates (72), Oman (73)

Pot 2: Uzbekistan (74), China (80), Jordan (82), Bahrain (86), Syria (94), Vietnam (95), Palestine (96), Kyrgyzstan (97), India (99)

Pot 3: Lebanon (100), Tajikistan (110), Thailand (113), North Korea (115), Philippines (135), Malaysia (136), Kuwait (137), Turkmenistan (138), Hong Kong (149)

Pot 4: Indonesia (150), Chinese Taipei (153), Maldives (155), Yemen (156), Afghanistan (157), Singapore (158), Myanmar (160), Nepal (175), Cambodia (176), Macau (182), Mongolia (183), Bhutan (185), Laos (187), Bangladesh (189), Brunei (190), Timor-leste (192), Pakistan (201), Gaum (203)

The draw for the first and second rounds of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (USA, Mexico, Canada) and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup (Saudi Arabia) will be held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

The 2026 edition of the World Cup will be an expanded 48-team affair hence forty-five AFC-affiliated nations will have the chance to qualify for the tournament. The qualification process will be played over five rounds while the first two will also double up as the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

The 45 AFC (Asian Football Confederation) teams will be segregated into four pots and will be drawn into nine groups of four teams each. The 18 teams from pot 4 will compete in the first-round qualifiers in October, where they will face off in a two-legged tie to qualify for the second round.

How many teams from AFC can qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?

The 2026 edition will see the number of AFC qualification slots go up to 8 and 1 inter-confederation playoff spot.

Which pot is India placed in?

India is the 18th highest-ranked team in Asia, which confirms the Blue Tigers a place in pot 2 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

Being in pot 2 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers means that India will be the lowest-ranked team in the pot and will avoid the Asian teams ranked between 10 and 17 in the World Cup qualifiers.

India could, however, draw one of the top eight teams in Pot 1 and will find itself in a group with two other teams ranked lower than India from pots 3 and 4.

What time is the AFC’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers draw in IST?

The draw for the first and second rounds of AFC’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers will take place in AFC House on July 27 in Malaysia from 1.30 PM IST (4 PM MYT) onwards.

Where to watch AFC’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers draw?

The draw for AFC’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers can be streamed live on AFC Asian Cup’s Youtube channel on July 27.