The AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will be the qualifying tournament for the 2025 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. A total of 48 teams from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) are expected to compete for 8.5 slots in the World Cup finals.
The qualifying format will be similar to the one used for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with four rounds. The first round will feature 12 teams, which will be divided into two groups of six. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.
AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025
Here are 7 important points about the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025:
- 48 teams from the AFC will compete
- 8.5 slots in the World Cup finals
- Four rounds of qualifying
- First round: 12 teams in two groups of six
- Second round: 24 teams in six groups of four
- Third round: 12 teams in two groups of six
- Fourth round: Two-legged playoffs
The qualifying tournament will begin in October 2025 and is expected to conclude in March 2026.
48 teams from the AFC will compete
The AFC is the largest of FIFA’s six continental confederations, with 47 member associations. All 47 AFC member associations are eligible to enter the qualifying tournament for the 2025 FIFA World Cup, with the exception of Australia, which is now a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) but will compete in the 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as part of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
The 48 teams will be divided into three pots based on their FIFA World Rankings as of March 2025. Pot 1 will contain the top 12 teams, Pot 2 will contain the next 12 teams, and Pot 3 will contain the remaining 24 teams.
The draw for the first round of qualifying will be held in July 2025. The 12 teams in Pot 1 will be seeded into the two groups, with the top six teams in Pot 2 and the top six teams in Pot 3 also being seeded into the two groups. The remaining eight teams in Pot 2 and the remaining 16 teams in Pot 3 will be drawn into the two groups.
The teams in each group will play each other home and away on a round-robin basis. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round of qualifying.
8.5 slots in the World Cup finals
The AFC has been allocated 8.5 slots in the 2025 FIFA World Cup finals. This means that 8.5 teams from the AFC will qualify for the World Cup, with the 0.5 representing the possibility of a team qualifying via the inter-confederation play-offs.
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The top two teams from each of the two groups in the third round of qualifying will qualify directly for the World Cup finals.
This means that four teams from the AFC will qualify directly for the World Cup finals.
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The two third-placed teams from the two groups in the third round of qualifying will advance to the fourth round of qualifying.
The two third-placed teams will play each other in a two-legged play-off, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup finals.
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The winner of the fourth round of qualifying will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
The winner of the fourth round of qualifying will play against a team from another confederation in a two-legged play-off, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup finals.
- If the winner of the fourth round of qualifying is from the AFC, then the AFC will have 8.5 teams in the World Cup finals. If the winner of the fourth round of qualifying is not from the AFC, then the AFC will have 8 teams in the World Cup finals.
The AFC has never had more than four teams qualify for the World Cup finals, so the allocation of 8.5 slots is a significant increase. This is due in part to the expansion of the World Cup finals from 32 teams to 48 teams.
Four rounds of qualifying
The AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will consist of four rounds:
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First round: 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.
The first round is designed to reduce the number of teams from 48 to 24.
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Second round: 24 teams will be divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the third round.
The second round is designed to reduce the number of teams from 24 to 12.
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Third round: 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six. The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup finals, and the two third-placed teams will advance to the fourth round.
The third round is the final stage of qualifying for the World Cup finals.
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Fourth round: The two third-placed teams from the third round will play each other in a two-legged play-off, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup finals.
The fourth round is a play-off to determine the final team from the AFC to qualify for the World Cup finals.
The first round and second round of qualifying will be played in a single round-robin format, with each team playing each other team in their group once. The third round and fourth round of qualifying will be played in a double round-robin format, with each team playing each other team in their group twice.
First round: 12 teams in two groups of six
The first round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will feature 12 teams, which will be divided into two groups of six. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.
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The 12 teams will be divided into two pots based on their FIFA World Rankings as of March 2025.
Pot 1 will contain the top six teams, and Pot 2 will contain the remaining six teams.
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The draw for the first round will be held in July 2025.
The six teams in Pot 1 will be seeded into the two groups, with the top three teams in Pot 2 also being seeded into the two groups. The remaining three teams in Pot 2 will be drawn into the two groups.
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The teams in each group will play each other home and away on a round-robin basis.
Each team will play a total of four matches in the first round.
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The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.
The second round will feature 24 teams, which will be divided into six groups of four.
The first round of qualifying is scheduled to be played between October 2025 and March 2025.
Second round: 24 teams in six groups of four
The second round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will feature 24 teams, which will be divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the third round.
The 24 teams will be divided into four pots based on their FIFA World Rankings as of March 2025. Pot 1 will contain the top six teams, Pot 2 will contain the next six teams, Pot 3 will contain the next six teams, and Pot 4 will contain the remaining six teams.
The draw for the second round will be held in July 2025. The six teams in Pot 1 will be seeded into the six groups, with the top two teams in Pot 2, the top two teams in Pot 3, and the top two teams in Pot 4 also being seeded into the six groups. The remaining teams in each pot will be drawn into the six groups.
The teams in each group will play each other home and away on a round-robin basis. Each team will play a total of six matches in the second round.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the third round. The third round will feature 12 teams, which will be divided into two groups of six.
The second round of qualifying is scheduled to be played between October 2025 and March 2025.
Third round: 12 teams in two groups of six
The third round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will feature 12 teams, which will be divided into two groups of six. The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup finals, and the two third-placed teams will advance to the fourth round.
The 12 teams will be divided into two pots based on their FIFA World Rankings as of March 2025. Pot 1 will contain the top six teams, and Pot 2 will contain the remaining six teams.
The draw for the third round will be held in July 2025. The six teams in Pot 1 will be seeded into the two groups, with the top three teams in Pot 2 also being seeded into the two groups. The remaining three teams in Pot 2 will be drawn into the two groups.
The teams in each group will play each other home and away on a round-robin basis. Each team will play a total of ten matches in the third round.
The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup finals. The two third-placed teams will advance to the fourth round, where they will play each other in a two-legged play-off. The winner of the play-off will qualify for the World Cup finals.
The third round of qualifying is scheduled to be played between October 2025 and March 2026.
### Fourth round: Two-legged play-offs
The fourth round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will feature a two-legged play-off between the two third-placed teams from the third round.
The draw for the fourth round will be held in March 2026.
The two teams will play each other home and away on a two-legged basis. The winner of the play-off will qualify for the World Cup finals.
The fourth round of qualifying is scheduled to be played in May 2026.
The winner of the fourth round of qualifying will be the eighth and final team from the AFC to qualify for the World Cup finals.
### FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025:
Question 1: How many teams from the AFC will qualify for the World Cup finals?
Answer 1: 8.5 teams from the AFC will qualify for the World Cup finals.
Question 2: When will the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 begin and end?
Answer 2: The AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will begin in October 2025 and end in March 2026.
Question 3: What is the format of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025?
Answer 3: The AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will consist of four rounds: first round, second round, third round, and fourth round.
Question 4: How many teams will compete in the first round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025?
Answer 4: 12 teams will compete in the first round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025.
Question 5: How many teams will qualify for the second round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025?
Answer 5: The top two teams from each of the two groups in the first round will qualify for the second round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025.
Question 6: How many teams will qualify for the World Cup finals from the third round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025?
Answer 6: The top two teams from each of the two groups in the third round will qualify directly for the World Cup finals, and the two third-placed teams will advance to the fourth round.
Question 7: How many teams will compete in the fourth round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025?
Answer 7: The two third-placed teams from the third round will compete in the fourth round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ: We hope this FAQ has answered some of your questions about the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025. For more information, please visit the AFC website.
Now that you know more about the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025, here are a few tips to help you follow the tournament:
### Tips
Here are a few tips to help you follow the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025:
Tip 1: Check the AFC website regularly for the latest news and updates.
Tip 2: Follow the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 on social media.
Tip 3: Set up a reminder to watch the matches.
Tip 4: Read previews and analysis of the matches before they start.
Tip 5: Join a fantasy football league.
Closing Paragraph for Tips: These are just a few tips to help you follow the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025. By following these tips, you can make sure that you don’t miss any of the action.
Now that you know more about the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 and have some tips on how to follow the tournament, you’re all set to enjoy the excitement and drama of the qualifying matches.
### Conclusion
The AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 will be a long and challenging tournament, but it is also an exciting opportunity for the teams involved. With 8.5 slots available for the World Cup finals, there is a lot to play for.
The qualifying tournament will begin in October 2025 and will conclude in March 2026. The 48 teams from the AFC will be divided into four rounds of qualifying, with the top teams from each round advancing to the next. The final eight teams will qualify for the World Cup finals.
The AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025 is sure to be filled with excitement and drama. The teams will be fighting for their chance to represent their country at the World Cup, and the fans will be cheering them on every step of the way.
Closing Message: We hope this article has provided you with all the information you need to know about the AFC World Cup Qualifying 2025. We wish all the teams the best of luck in the qualifying tournament and look forward to seeing them compete in the World Cup finals.