Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially confirmed that the Qatar and the Saudi Arabia will serve as the Host Member Associations for the much-anticipated AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Playoffs.
Set to take place from October 8 to 14, 2025, the playoffs will feature six teams — the third- and fourth-placed sides from the AFC Asian Qualifiers, namely Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These teams will be divided into two groups of three and will compete in a centralised round-robin format hosted across Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
High Stakes: Only Two Automatic World Cup Spots Up for Grabs
The stakes couldn’t be higher, as only the winners of each group will clinch direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Meanwhile, the runners-up from both groups will not be out of contention just yet. They will square off in a two-legged AFC Asian Qualifiers™ Knockout Stage on November 13 and 18, 2025. The victor of that clash will earn the right to represent Asia in the FIFA Intercontinental Play-off Tournament, offering one last chance to qualify for the global stage.
The Official Draw to determine the composition of the two groups will be held on July 17, 2025, setting the stage for what promises to be a dramatic and decisive chapter in Asia’s Road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With world-class facilities and strong footballing infrastructures, both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are poised to deliver a high-quality tournament as Asia’s remaining hopefuls battle for their place among football’s elite.
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