Asian Qualifiers - Landing Page

QFA said both parties decided it was a good moment to begin a new chapter when Sanchez's contract expires on Saturday.

The decision comes after Qatar's maiden FIFA World Cup campaign ended in the group stage with the hosts suffering three defeats in Group A.

While Japan failed to reach the quarter-finals after losing to Croatia on penalties in the Round of 16, they produced stunning wins against Germany and Spain in the group stage.

Lionel Messi may have hoisted the trophy but history will show that Saudi Arabia not only were the last team to beat Argentina before they emerged champions for a third time but were also the side to end the South American side's 36-match unbeaten run heading into Qatar 2022.

The-AFC.com relives Saudi Arabia's thrilling adventure.

It proved to be a tough yet rewarding experience for head coach Felix Sanchez's players with expectations soaring that Qatar can be regular qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup.

All hope looked lost following their defeat to Ghana but Paulo Bento's side refused to give up.

Join the-AFC.com as we retrace Korea Republic's Qatar 2022 journey.

Head coach Hajime Moriyasu had unhesitatingly stated that the last eight stage was his target, with Japan having fallen in the Round of 16 on three previous occasions.

The-AFC.com takes a look at how Japan just missed out on reaching their target.

Iran gave Qatar 2022 their all and despite suffering disappointment, Carlos Queiroz's side won many hearts with their resilience and determination.

The-AFC.com revisits Iran's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign.

In masterminding Argentina's triumph, Lionel Messi ensured his trophy cabinet now has the one title that he really craved.

While Messi and Argentina bask in glory, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 also saw Asia's cast making their impact felt in the global showpiece. The-AFC.com revisits the Asian performance, starting with Australia.

For the Asian Football Confederation, meanwhile, it was collectively a best-ever campaign as the six sides from the continent posted some of the greatest results in their history as they broke new ground on the world stage.

With the sun now set on Qatar 2022, the-AFC.com highlights some of the stats and facts that caught the eye with Asia’s six representatives.

Four years ago at Russia 2018, Asia recorded its highest points tally in a FIFA World Cup and that feat was topped in Qatar as, for the very first time, three teams representing the Asian Football Confederation made it to the knockout stages.

Australia, Japan and Korea Republic were the nations who scripted history with their Round of 16 appearances, but the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who hosted a truly superb FIFA World Cup, all had tournaments which they can look back on with fond memories.

With Argentina’s triumph over France in a thrilling finale at Lusail Stadium on Sunday bringing the curtain down on a competition that will live long in the memory, the-AFC.com looks back at some of Asia’s best moments from Qatar 2022 as the FIFA World Cup visited the continent for only the second time.

"It hasn't yet sunk in but this is a moment to enjoy, especially the people," Scaloni told the official FIFA World Cup media channel in Doha.

"We who live by this have had ups and downs, we're used to these things happening to us, taking blows," he added after the remarkable topsy turvy final in the Lusail stadium.

"We were not as good in the first 60 minutes against top-quality opponents who had a lot more energy, but we came back from nowhere and turned the game around from a very difficult situation. That leaves us with even more regrets," said Deschamps after France failed in their bid to become the first team in 60 years to retain the trophy.

The Chinese have been drawn to face hosts Qatar as well as Tajikistan and Lebanon in Group A at the Finals with several players who represented the country at the last AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2019 still integral to the national team squad.

But while key players such as goalkeeper Yan Junling, defender Zhang Linpeng, captain Wu Xi and striker Wu Lei are now reaching the veteran stage of their careers, Jankovic is convinced his squad retains the ability to compete with the continent’s best.

The Portuguese, who replaced Felix Sanchez as head coach, has two major targets - Qatar's defence of their AFC Asian Cup™ title and qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Among those missing from the Qatar squad for the Gold Cup are Captain Hassan Al Haydos, Akram Afif, Karim Boudiaf, Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Abdulaziz Hatem and Saad Al Sheeb in Queiroz's bid to blood new players.

Having already taken a look at Groups A, B and C, join the-AFC.com as we anticipate what is in store in Groups D, E and F.

The six group winners and runners-up, together with the four best third-placed teams will advance to the Round of 16.

The six group winners and runners-up, together with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 16.

The action promises to be thrilling and as we await the kick-off, join the-AFC.com as we take a look at what is in store in Groups A, B and C of Qatar 2023.

Some were optimistic of their chances, others said they were relishing the challenge ahead while a few said it would be a great opportunity for the development of their players.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the reaction to the draw for the continental showpiece which will be played on January 12 to February 10, 2024.

Asia’s top 24 teams discovered their group stage fate at the Katara Opera House in Doha for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ and will do battle at the Continental showpiece between 12 January to 10 February, 2024.

Held across 10 Match Days from September 2, 2021, to March 29, 2022, as well as last week’s AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to Qatar Playoff between eventual winners Australia and the United Arab Emirates, Asia’s top 12 sides battled across 61 matches with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia eventually clinching the Continent’s four automatic places, before the Socceroos claimed a record sixth AFC spot to join hosts Qatar.

The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder's deflected volley in the 84th minute decided the feverish Asian Playoff on Tuesday in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium that will host seven games in the FIFA World Cup Finals in November.

Australia will take on a dangerous Peru side in the same stadium in a do-or-die clash on June 13 in their quest to qualify for the Finals and Arnold said he expected more from his players.

With Australia contesting their seventh FIFA World Cup playoff and the UAE at this stage for the first time in their history, both teams looked to attack from the start as Harib Suhail was caught narrowly offside and Jackson Irvine saw his cross cleared at the far post all inside the first three minutes.

The two teams are battling for the right to face Peru in six days’ time, having finished third in their respective groups in the earlier round, with the UAE collecting 12 points to finish behind IR Iran and Korea Republic who advanced directly to Qatar 2022 from Group A while the Socceroos’ 15 points put them a point ahead of Oman and behind qualified duo Saudi Arabia and Japan in Group B.

The game marks the penultimate step in a two-and-a-half year journey including 18 matches over the course of two rounds, the first of which was interrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic early in 2020 forcing it to continue just under two years later in a centralised format.

With the UAE eyeing a return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1990, and Australia targeting a fifth consecutive appearance on the world stage, the-AFC.com revisits the path that led both teams to this point.

It is difficult to believe Saleh is still eligible to represent the UAE at the ongoing AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2022 given how long he has been kicking around. The winger made his first team debut at his hometown club Al Wasl at 15, and by the age of 19 he had become a full international, underlining the potential seen in him by various coaches from an early age.

Having qualified for the previous four FIFA World Cups, a third-place finish in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar Group B means Graham Arnold’s side must repeat the treacherous playoff journey navigated by Ange Postecoglou’s squad on the Road to Russia, with victories against the UAE then fifth-placed South American side Peru required if the Australian streak is to continue.

Here are six players to watch out for as Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side clash against Graham Arnold’s team in Al Rayyan on June 7.

From Japan reaching the global showpiece for the first time to an incredible ending in Riyadh, penalty shootout drama in Tashkent and Syria coming so close to a fairy tale ending, the-AFC.com looks back at four unforgettable Asian Playoffs.

The Socceroos are off to Doha to face the UAE on June 7 in the Asian Playoff, with the winners taking on Peru a week later for a spot at the FIFA World Cup Finals Qatar 2022.

Football Australia said Rogic, who has 53 caps for the Socceroos, cited personal reasons for the withdrawing from the playoff and will not be replaced in a squad that has been reduced to 28.

The 2016 AFC Player of the Year came off the bench at half time in the UAE’s 1-1 friendly draw against The Gambia on Sunday as head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena tested 24 players in preparation for June 7’s crunch encounter.

Sanchez steps down as Qatar head coach

Moriyasu stays as Japan head coach

Qatar 2022: Saudi Arabia stun Argentina in thrilling campaign

Qatar 2022: Steep learning curve for hosts

Qatar 2022: Korea Republic show grit and determination

Qatar 2022: So near yet so far for Japan

Qatar 2022: Heartbreak but IR Iran show quality

Qatar 2022: Australia scale new peak

Qatar 2022: Asia in Numbers

Asian Highs at Qatar 2022

Scaloni tells fans to enjoy amazing victory

Deschamps rues 'cruel' defeat

China PR's Jankovic happy with available talent

Queiroz introduces fresh faces as he charts new course for Qatar

#AsianCup2023 - Know Your Groups D, E & F

#AsianCup2023 - Know Your Groups A, B & C

#AsianCup2023 Draw - What They Said

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ match schedule reveals thrilling showdowns

AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to Qatar smashes all digital engagement records

Arnold wants more from Australia after Asian Playoff win against UAE

Australia defeat UAE to confirm Peru showdown

Preview - Asian Playoff: United Arab Emirates v Australia

AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to Qatar Playoff - UAE v Australia: How They Got There

Saleh leads new UAE generation looking to overcome vital Australia Playoff

Australia’s Boyle relishing big stage ahead of crucial UAE Playoff

UAE v Australia: 6 players to watch out for during the Asian Playoff

Asian Playoffs: 4 Classic Encounters

Australia lose playmaker Rogic for Asian Playoff against UAE

Abdulrahman boost for UAE ahead of Asian Playoff against Australia