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Final draw: All you need to know

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Final draw: All you need to know

Kuala Lumpur: The Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be held on Friday and it promises to be a spectacular affair.

The expanded 48-team tournament - up from the 32-nation field that competed at the FIFA World Cup 2022 - will be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year.

With Asia set to be well represented, the-AFC.com brings you all the details of the Final Draw.

Arnold urges focus as Iraq get set for Bolivia or Suriname showdown

Fri, 21 Nov, 2025

Arnold urges focus as Iraq get set for Bolivia or Suriname showdown

Kuala Lumpur: Graham Arnold has called for determination and focus after Iraq were drawn to face either Bolivia or Suriname in a single, winners-take-all FIFA Playoff Tournament tie next March for a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

The draw, conducted at FIFA headquarters in Zürich, placed Iraq directly into the final stage of the inter-confederation playoff as one of the two seeded teams, bypassing the bracket semi-finals and standing just one match away from a historic return to football’s biggest stage.

Uzbekistan name Cannavaro as head coach

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Uzbekistan name Cannavaro as head coach

Tashkent: Former Italy FIFA World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro has been named as the new head coach of Uzbekistan, it was announced on Monday.

It is the second time that the 2006 Ballon d'Or winner has taken charge of a national team, having coached China PR for two matches in early 2019 before stepping down.

Preview - Group B: Oman v Palestine

Fri, 15 Nov, 2024

Preview - Group B: Oman v Palestine

Muscat: Oman will be desperate to reignite their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Group B campaign when they entertain Palestine at the Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex on Thursday.

Head coach Rashid Jaber’s side find themselves in a precarious position, sitting fourth in the group with three points after a challenging start.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/asian_qualifiers/video/asianqualifiers_-_road_to_26_|_group_c__saudi_arabia_1_-_1_indonesia.html

Preview - Group D: Chinese Taipei v Kyrgyz Republic; Oman v Malaysia

Fri, 15 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group D: Chinese Taipei v Kyrgyz Republic; Oman v Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: Group D leaders Malaysia will be looking to extend their Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ winning run when they meet Oman on Thursday.

Chinese Taipei host Kyrgyz Republic in the group’s other tie with both sides seeking wins to boost their chances.

Preview - Group E: Hong Kong, China v Uzbekistan; IR Iran v Turkmenistan

Fri, 15 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group E: Hong Kong, China v Uzbekistan; IR Iran v Turkmenistan

Kuala Lumpur: Uzbekistan will welcome back star forward Eldor Shomurodov for the first of two matches against Hong Kong, China in Group E of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

The AS Roma player, currently on loan at Cagliari, missed the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ through injury but is available again to give Srecko Katanec more attacking options.

Having collected four points from their opening two matches, head coach Katanec is determined for Uzbekistan to collect maximum points from their double header with Hong Kong, China.  

Preview - Group F: Indonesia v Vietnam; Iraq v Philippines

Fri, 15 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group F: Indonesia v Vietnam; Iraq v Philippines

Kuala Lumpur: It will be a repeat of their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ clash when Indonesia host Vietnam in Group F of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

The other match in the group will see Iraq aiming to continue their perfect start with a win against Philippines.

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. 

Nishigaya expects improvement from Singapore

Wed, 18 Oct, 2023

Nishigaya expects improvement from Singapore

Guam: Head coach Takayuki Nishigaya expects a sharper performance from Singapore in  Round 2 of the  FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Preliminary Joint Qualification.

Singapore defeated Guam 1-0 in the second leg of their Round 1 tie on Tuesday, winning 3-1 on aggregate to advance to Group C where they have Korea Republic, China PR and Thailand for company. 

Chinese Taipei’s focus impresses White

Wed, 18 Oct, 2023

Chinese Taipei’s focus impresses White

Kaohsiung City: Chinese Taipei head coach Gary White was delighted after his team secured their FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 berth after defeating Timor Leste 3-0 on Monday.

Three quick-fire goals capped an impressive performance as Chinese Taipei advanced with a 7-0 aggregate win.

Myanmar's Feichtenbeiner relishing Round 2 challenge

Wed, 18 Oct, 2023

Myanmar's Feichtenbeiner relishing Round 2 challenge

Macau: Myanmar head coach Michael Feichtenbeiner wants his players to view their upcoming clash with Japan as a chance to further improve after the Southeast Asians booked their place in the next phase of the Joint Qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

Myanmar were held to a 0-0 draw by Macau on Tuesday but will face four-time AFC Asian Cup winners Japan as well as DPR Korea and Syria in Group B of the second round after a 5-1 win in the first leg in Yangon on Thursday had put them in pole position to progress.