Japan, Australia handed tough Asian World Cup qualifying group

Asian Football Confederation heavyweights Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia were drawn together on Thursday for 2026 World Cup qualifying in a "group of death" that also includes China, Bahrain and Indonesia.

The 18 remaining Asian teams battling it out for eight direct qualification places were drawn into three third-round groups of six at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

Son Heung-min's South Korea were given a more straightforward-looking assignment when they were drawn to face Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait.

Iran head Group A where they will play Asian Cup champions Qatar, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and North Korea.

Matches will be played on a home-and-away basis from September 2024 to June 2025, with the top two in each of the three groups qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup.

Teams finishing third and fourth will advance to the fourth round where they will be split into two groups of three with group winners both claiming a direct qualifying spot.

The two second-placed teams will then face each other in November 2025, with the winner progressing to the FIFA intercontinental play-off tournament to decide the final berth.

The expanded 48-team World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Third round AFC qualification draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Group A: Iran, Qatar, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea

Group B: South Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, Kuwait

Group C: Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, Indonesia