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Saudi Arabia and Qatar to host Asian playoffs for World Cup: AFC

Saudi Arabia's defender Nawaf Bu Washl (C) competes for the ball with Japan's midfielders Wataru Endo (L) and Takefusa Kubo (R) during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match between Japan and Saudi Arabia in Saitama on March 25, 2025. (AFP)
By TRENDS Desk AFP
June 13, 2025 10:41 pm
  • Six teams, the third and fourth-placed sides from the recent Asian qualifiers, namely Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE will be divided into two groups of 3 teams.
  • They will battle each other in a centralized format from October 8 to 14, 2025, the AFC said in a statement.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Saudi Arabia and Qatar will host the Asian qualifying playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said Friday.

Six teams, the third and fourth-placed sides from the recent Asian qualifiers, namely Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, will be divided into two groups of three teams.

They will battle each other in a centralized format from October 8 to 14, 2025, the AFC said in a statement.

The group winners will secure the two remaining automatic berths at the World Cup.

The draw for the next round is scheduled for July 17.

The runners-up from each group will play two matches on November 13 and 18, with the winners qualifying for the inter-confederation playoffs for the World Cup.

Asian federations had requested that the Asian playoff matches be held on neutral ground.

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