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Joint Preliminary Qualification - How the groups stand

Mon, 18 Mar, 2024

Joint Preliminary Qualification - How the groups stand

Kuala Lumpur: The Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ returns on Thursday after a four-month break with everything to play for.

The nine group winners and the respective runners-up will advance to the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying, and at the same time seal their places at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
 
The other 18 teams from Round 2 will proceed directly to the third and final round of AFC Asian Cup qualifying. 
 
The-AFC.com brings you up to speed with how the groups stand ahead of Thursday's Matchday Three. 

Katanec: Uzbekistan capable of challenging Asia’s best

Fri, 15 Mar, 2024

Katanec: Uzbekistan capable of challenging Asia’s best

Tashkent: Uzbekistan are aiming to carry their momentum from the recent AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ into the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

The Central Asian side advanced to the quarter-finals at Qatar 2023 before losing on penalties to the hosts. 

Head coach Srecko Katanec, in a recent interview with the-AFC.com, said he is looking forward to the Qualifiers with Uzbekistan to play a double-header against Hong Kong, China with the Slovenian having called up 20 of the 26 players from the AFC Asian Cup squad. 

Hwang to steer Korea Republic

Wed, 28 Feb, 2024

Hwang to steer Korea Republic

Seoul: Hwang Sun-hong has been named the interim head coach of Korea Republic's men's national team.

Hwang, who is also the head coach of Korea Republic's U23 side, replaces German Jurgen Klinsmann.

Lopez stays as Qatar head coach

Sat, 24 Feb, 2024

Lopez stays as Qatar head coach

Doha: Marquez Lopez will continue as Qatar national team head coach until 2026.

The 62-year-old Spaniard signed the contract on Friday, having steered Qatar's successful defence of their AFC Asian Cup™ title earlier this month.

Ivankovic takes charge of China PR men's national team

Sat, 24 Feb, 2024

Ivankovic takes charge of China PR men's national team

Beijing: Branko Ivankovic has been appointed as head coach of the China PR men's national team, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said on Saturday.

The Croatian replaces Aleksandar Jankovic, with the Serbian having been in charge of China PR at the recent AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™.

Round 2 – The star performers

Sat, 25 Nov, 2023

Round 2 – The star performers

Kuala Lumpur: There was no shortage of excitement and drama as the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ began in a whirlwind of action across the continent over the past couple of weeks. 

Some of Asia’s biggest stars took centre stage in the first two matches of the qualification campaign from which the nine group winners and nine runners-up will advance to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifying and seal a direct place in the AFC Asian Cup.
 
From Korea Republic ace Son Heung-min to Bangladesh wonderkid Shekh Morsalin, the-AFC.com takes a look at eight players who stood out for their national teams on Matchdays One and Two of the joint qualifiers. 

Round 2 - MD2: Facts & Figures

Thu, 23 Nov, 2023

Round 2 - MD2: Facts & Figures

Kuala Lumpur: After two matchdays, the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ takes a break and will return in March.

While it is still early days, Matchday Two provided a glimpse of how the second round could eventually finish so join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the facts and figures from an eventful round of action.

QF Preview: Uzbekistan primed for France showdown

Fri, 24 Nov, 2023

QF Preview: Uzbekistan primed for France showdown

Surakarta: Uzbekistan will be looking to extend their stay in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 when they take on France in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Having sent England packing in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, Jamoliddin Rakhmatullaev’s side will be brimming with confidence as they seek a place in the last four for the first time.

Round 2 - MD2: 5 things we learned

Thu, 23 Nov, 2023

Round 2 - MD2: 5 things we learned

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Two of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ saw exciting action, comebacks and upsets.

With the qualifying action to resume in March, attention now turns to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ with 24 of the 36 teams competing in Round 2 of the qualifiers to contest for the coveted trophy.
 
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at five things we learned from Matchday Two.

Polking leaves Thailand

Thu, 23 Nov, 2023

Polking leaves Thailand

Bangkok: Thailand's national men's football team have parted ways with head coach Alexandre Polking, officials said on Wednesday. 

Team manager Nualphan Lamsam said Polking would be replaced by Masatada Ishii, the 56-year-old Japanese coach who led Buriram United to Thai Premier League titles in 2022 and 2023.

Uzbekistan showed character against IR Iran, says Katanec

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Uzbekistan showed character against IR Iran, says Katanec

Tashkent: Head coach Srecko Katanec was brimming with pride after seeing Uzbekistan overturn a two-goal deficit to hold Islamic Republic of Iran to a 2-2 draw in Group E of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday.

The result left the two teams level on points heading into the next matchday scheduled for March, 2024.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/asian_qualifiers/photo/qualifiers_r2_-_md2_groups_g-i.html