The AFC has outlined its proposed Transition Phase Calendar for 2027–29, and Asian national teams could be heading into an extremely busy period.
During these three years, FIFA international windows are expected to be heavily occupied by three major competitions.
ROAD TO WORLD CUP 2030
The existing World Cup qualifying pathway will largely remain in place during the transition period:
March 2027: World Cup Qualifiers Round 1
Sep–Oct & Nov 2027: Round 2 begins
March 2028: Round 2 concludes
May/June 2028 → June 2029: Asian Qualifiers
Sep–Oct 2029: Asian qualifying playoffs
June/July 2030: FIFA World Cup 2030
AFC NATIONS LEAGUE PILOT — 2028/29
According to the AFC calendar, the pilot competition is scheduled to begin in June 2028 and run through 2029.
The calendar shows three levels:
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Nations League matches would be played across FIFA international windows alongside the latter stages of Asian qualifying.
The schedule indicates Nations League activity in :
-June 2028
-September/October 2028
-November 2028
-March 2029
-June 2029
-September/October 2029.
This means 2027–29 will effectively be a transition period, with the traditional World Cup qualifying system and the new Nations League structure operating side by side.
From 2030 onward, the Nations League is expected to become an even more important part of the Asian international calendar.
What do you think of the new AFC Nations League system?