Soccer
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has sent a letter confirming the continent of Asia. will be eligible to send the nation to participate in the 2026 World Cup final at USA, Canada and Mexico, all 8 nations and qualifying play Another Intercontinenal nation has been endorsed by the AFC Executive Committee on 29 July 2022.
The 2026 World Cup qualifying rounds in Asia will be divided into 4 rounds as follows:
First round: Leading 22 nations ranked 26-47 of the continent. Draw a two-match home-and-away draw on October 12 and 17, 2023 to find the winning team. 11 teams qualify for the second round.
Second round: lead the first 25 nations of the continent, plus 11 nations from the first qualifying round, a total of 36 nations, then divided into 9 groups and compete in a home-and-away match of 6 matches and lead the group champion with vice-champion of the group Qualifying round 3, the program is as follows:
Matchday 1-2 : 16-21 November 2023
Matchday 3-4 : 21-26 March 2024
Matchday 5-6 : 6-11 June 2024
Third round: Lead the 18 nations that have qualified for the third round to be divided into 3 groups, 6 teams each and compete in a round-robin match, home and away.
Matchday 1-2 : 5-10 September 2024
Matchday 3-4 : 10-15 October 2024
Matchday 5-6 : 14-19 November 2024
Matchday 7-10 : March-June 2025
The winner and the group runner-up from this round, 6 teams will be eligible to play in the final of the 2026 World Cup immediately.
While teams ranked 3-4 from all three groups, a total of 6 teams will compete in the play-off round. Which will be divided into two groups, groups of 3 teams each, and will compete in a single match. During the month of September - November 2025
The team that wins the group will be the 7th and 8th team that have participated in the World Cup final.
and the 2nd place team of both groups Let's play off together. Home and away form on September 5-10, 2024 to find the winning team to compete with Representatives from other continents
The Thai national team will be eligible to participate in the competition from the second round onwards as it is one of the 24 teams that have qualified for the final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2023.