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Heading into the third 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 November and the story so far in each of the three groups.
Group A standings
1. Iran – 10pts (P4 W3 D1 L0 GD +5)
2. Uzbekistan – 10pts (P4 W3 D1 L0 GD +3)
3. United Arab Emirates – 4pts (P4 W1 D1 L2 GD 0)
4. Qatar – 4pts (P4 W1 D1 L2 GD -3)
5. Kyrgyzstan – 3pts (P4 W1 D0 L3 GD -3)
6. North Korea – 2pts (P4 W0 D2 L2 GD -2)
UPCOMING FIXTURES
All kickoff times in UK time
North Korea vs. Iran (14 November, 12pm | Lao National Stadium, Laos)
Qatar vs. Uzbekistan (14 November, 4.15pm | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)
United Arab Emirates vs. Kyrgyzstan (14 November, 4.15pm | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi)
North Korea vs. Uzbekistan (19 November, 12pm | Lao National Stadium, Laos)
Kyrgyzstan vs. Iran (19 November, 2pm | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek)
United Arab Emirates vs. Qatar (19 November, 4pm | Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain)
STORY SO FAR
After the first four matches of the third round, there are two clear favourites in Group A running away from the pack as they look to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with 2022 appearance makers Iran tied on 10 points with surprise package Uzbekistan, both sitting six points ahead of United Arab Emirates in third.
Hosting football’s biggest tournament at the end of 2022, Qatar have serious work to do in order to make it to back-to-back competitions for the first time in their humble history, with the Maroons facing the teams directly above them, Uzbekistan and UAE, during the November international window.
Facing fifth-placed Kyrgyzstan on November 19, Group A leaders Iran will be sensing the chance to extend their lead at the summit of the standings further, just days after Team Melli make the trip to Lao National Stadium in Vientiane to battle with bottom side North Korea.
Both Iran and Uzbekistan know that back-to-back wins over the next fortnight would stretch their unbeaten runs to six matches and allow them to put one hand on World Cup qualification before the final quartet of third-round fixtures during the first half of 2025.
Group B standings
1. South Korea – 10pts (P4 W3 D1 L0 GD +5)
2. Jordan – 7pts (P4 W2 D1 L1 GD +4)
3. Iraq – 7pts (P4 W2 D1 L1 GD +1)
4. Oman – 3pts (P4 W1 D0 L3 GD -3)
5. Kuwait – 3pts (P4 W0 D3 L1 GD -4)
6. Palestine – 2pts (P4 W0 D2 L2 GD -3)
UPCOMING FIXTURES
All kickoff times in UK time
Kuwait vs. South Korea (14 November, 2pm | Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Ardhiyah)
Oman vs. Palestine (14 November, 4pm | Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex, Muscat)
Iraq vs. Jordan (14 November, 4.15pm | Basra International Stadium, Basra)
Palestine vs. South Korea (19 November, 2pm | Amman International Stadium, Jordan)
Oman vs. Iraq (19 November, 4pm | Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex, Muscat)
Kuwait vs. Jordan (19 November, 6.15pm | Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City)
STORY SO FAR
Reaching the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before losing to South American giants Brazil, South Korea are the unsurprising frontrunners at the top of Group B heading into the November fixtures, with the East Asians unbeaten across their first four matches.
Three points ahead of second-placed Jordan and Iraq in third, South Korea have a massive opportunity to all but book their place in North America with back-to-back matches against the section minnows over the next week, with the group favourites facing both Kuwait and Palestine.
In a match that could go a long way in deciding who joins South Korea as automatic qualifiers, Iraq and Jordan will lock horns at Basra International Stadium in Basra on November 14, with the two sides matched on seven points from four Group B matches at this stage.
Alongside Group C strugglers Indonesia, Kuwait and Palestine are yet to earn their first wins of the third round of qualification, and their dreams of earning a top-two finish will soon become impossible if they fail to pick up a pair of positive results before the end of the month.
Group C standings
1. Japan – 10pts (P4 W3 D1 L0 GD +14)
2. Australia – 5pts (P4 W1 D2 L1 GD +1)
3. Saudi Arabia – 5pts (P4 W1 D2 L1 GD -1)
4. Bahrain – 5pts (P4 W01 D2 L1 GD -4)
5. Indonesia – 3pts (P4 W0 D3 L1 GD -1)
6. China – 3pts (P4 W1 D0 L3 GD -9)
UPCOMING FIXTURES
All kickoff times in UK time
Australia vs. Saudi Arabia (14 November, 9.10am | AAMI Park, Melbourne)
Bahrain vs. China (14 November, 2pm | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa)
Indonesia vs. Japan (15 November, 12pm | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta)
China vs. Indonesia (19 November, 12pm | Xiamen Egret Stadium, Xiamen)
Indonesia vs. Saudi Arabia (19 November, 12pm | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta)
Bahrain vs. Australia (19 November, 6.15pm | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa)
STORY SO FAR
Containing three nations who were highly competitive at the most recent edition of the World Cup, it is not a surprise to see a tightly-fought race for a top-two finish in Group C, although one particular country is beginning to run away from the pack towards North America.
Japan are the only side in the section who still possess their unbeaten record, with Samurai Blue recording a commendable two-goal success over Saudi Arabia on October 10 before playing out a 1-1 draw against Australia at Saitama Stadium in front of nearly 60,000 supporters on October 15.
There has been a significant managerial change in Group C ahead of the November fixtures, with former Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini leaving his position as Saudi Arabia manager by mutual consent, with the Italian’s job thrown into doubt following a pair of winless matches last month.
Making a managerial switch earlier in the calendar year, Australia commenced their Tony Popovic era with four points from two games in October following a woeful September, beating section strugglers China 3-1 at the Adelaide Oval before earning a share of the points in Japan last time out