The race for the AFC Fourth Round final berths at the historic 2026 FIFA World Cup enters a gripping phase as six of Asia’s top footballing nations prepare for the critical fourth qualifying round. With the global tournament expanding to 48 teams and Asia securing a record number of direct spots, the stakes have never been higher.
The fourth round features a centralised, round-robin contest held in Qatar and Saudi Arabia between teams that finished third and fourth in the AFC third-round qualification — all vying for the last two automatic World Cup tickets, while runners-up battle on for a playoff and potential intercontinental qualification.
The AFC Fourth Round Qualification winners of each group will qualify directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the runners-up will advance to the fifth round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers: AFC Fourth Round Qualification
Table of Contents
The AFC Fourth Round Qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place in October 2025 with six teams competing in a centralised venue format.
- Teams qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 – Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Uzbekistan
- Total Remaining slots – 2 +1 (one inter-confederation play-off slot)
- Eliminated Teams – 34 national Teams
- Remaining Teams (4th round)- 6
- Match Date – From 8 October 2025
Format
This round marks a major shift from the traditional home-and-away fixtures, opting instead for centralized tournaments that promise intense competition and drama.
The fourth round is split into two groups of three, each hosted by one of Asia’s football heavyweights. Only the top team in each pool secures an automatic place at the World Cup; second-placed squads move to a two-legged playoff in November for a final route to the global stage via the inter-confederation playoffs.
For Oman, Indonesia, and Iraq, it’s an opportunity to rewrite football history; for Qatar national Football team, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, it’s a chance to reclaim their place as continental powerhouses.
Fourth Round Qualified Teams
After the third round of qualification, 6 teams have qualified for the Fourth Round of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Group A (hosted by Qatar)
| Teams | Short Overview |
|---|---|
| Qatar | 2022 World Cup hosts, AFC champions |
| United Arab Emirates | seeking a second World Cup appearance |
| Oman | Aiming for their first-ever World Cup ticket |
Group B (hosted by Saudi Arabia)
| Teams | Short Overview |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | multiple World Cup appearances |
| Iraq | former World Cup participants, rising force |
| Indonesia | historic run, dreaming of a return since 1938 |
Schedule and Fixtures
All matches are scheduled at centralised venues in Qatar (Group A) and Saudi Arabia (Group B). Each team plays the other two in their group. The schedule is as follows –
| Matchday | Date |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 8 October 2025 |
| Matchday 2 | 11 October 2025 |
| Matchday 3 | 14 October 2025 |
Group A Fixtures
- 8 October: Oman vs Qatar
- 11 October: UAE vs Oman
- 14 October: Qatar vs UAE
Group B Fixtures
- 8 October: Indonesia vs Saudi Arabia
- 11 October: Iraq vs Indonesia
- 14 October: Saudi Arabia vs Iraq
Points Table or Standing
All teams will begin with zero points, and the table will update after each matchday result. Here is the initial points overview for both groups:
AFC 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Fourth Round Points Table
Group A
- 2026 FIFA World Cup – Qatar
- Fifth round – UAE
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qatar (H) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Oman | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 1 |
Group B
- 2026 FIFA World Cup – Saudi Arabia
- Fifth round – Iraq
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia (H) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| 2 | Iraq | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0 |
The fourth round of AFC World Cup qualifying in 2025 is set to be an electric showcase of Asian football’s best talent and rising contenders, where every minute will count toward a place in the world’s biggest sporting event.
As teams prepare to battle in the heat of Doha and Riyadh, only the most resilient and skilled sides will join the growing list of Asian representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification AFC round 4 – Top Scorer
- Kevin Diks – Indonesia – 2 goals
- Firas Al-Buraikan – Saudi Arabia – 2 goals
How many Asian teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
As of now, Eight Asian teams have qualified directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In addition, one more Asian team will qualify through the inter-confederation playoffs.
Which Asian nation could be next to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The top two teams from each group in the AFC fourth round will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have qualified after the fourth round, and the UAE and Iraq teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the fifth round.
