IR Iran, Japan and Korea Republic looking to move a step closer to World Cup qualification while wins are needed for Indonesia, Korea DPR and Palestine.
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IR Iran, Japan and Korea Republic remain undefeated midway through the third round
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Wins vital for struggling Indonesia, Korea DPR and Palestine
At the midway point of the third round of Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26™ the path to North America is starting to become clearer for a collection of the region’s heavyweights.
Further wins for the undefeated trio of IR Iran, Japan and Korea Republic this week would open the way for them to secure qualification in the next international window in March 2025.
At the other end of things, winless Indonesia, Kuwait, Korea DPR and Palestine are desperate to bank maximum points and reignite their qualification hopes.
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How qualification works
The top two finishers in each group will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup 26™. The six nations that finish third and fourth in their respective groups then advance to the fourth round, where a further two automatic berths are available. One additional team will then advance to the FIFA Play-off Tournament, where six sides compete for the last two tickets to the global finals.
Group A
Fixtures
Korea DPR v Uzbekistan Kyrgyz Republic v IR Iran United Arab Emirates v Qatar
Standings
1st) IR Iran – 13 points 2nd) Uzbekistan – 10 3rd) United Arab Emirates – 7 4th) Qatar – 7 5th) Kyrgyz Republic – 3 6th) Korea DPR – 2
Tuesday, 19 November New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane
Winless through their first five outings, another defeat here for Korea DPR would all but end their hopes of direct qualification, and make even securing a third or fourth-placed finish a tough ask. Uzbekistan rode the full range of emotions in Doha last week; coming back from two goals down against Qatar only to concede a 102nd-minute goal in a 3-2 defeat. They’re also likely to be missing star striker Eldor Shomurodov here, after he was forced off with injury in that Qatar loss.
Key stat: Uzbekistan have only failed to score in three of their last 18 World Cup qualifying matches.
Tuesday 19 November Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek
The situation is equally as desperate for a Kyrgyz Republic side that have lost four of their opening five matches in the third round. They’ll be hoping that home comforts in Bishkek, where they’ve only failed to score once in their past dozen outings, will help against an IR Iran outfit sitting three clear at the top of the section. There are concerns, though, for the visitors with Saman Ghoddos out with a hamstring complaint while central defender Shojae Khalilzadeh is suspended after he was sent off in a nervy 3-2 win against Korea DPR last week.
Key stat: IR Iran have lost only one of their last 25 World Cup qualifying matches.
Tuesday 19 November Al Nayhan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
With this pair locked on points, in third and fourth respectively, a win could see one or the other take a huge step towards securing a direct qualification slot. Both will enter in high spirits after victories last week, the UAE easing past Kyrgyz Republic 3-0 and Qatar striking late to sink Uzbekistan. In terms of potential absences though, it’s the hosts that have more concerns, with both right-back Zayed Sultan and central defender Khalifa Al-Hammadi struggling with injuries incurred during that previous outing.
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Key stat: Almoez Ali has scored a total of 12 goals in his nine appearances in the 2026 qualifiers.
Group B
Fixtures
Palestine v Korea Republic Oman v Iraq Kuwait v Jordan
Standings
1st) Korea Republic – 13 points 2nd) Jordan – 8 3rd) Iraq – 8 4th) Oman – 6 5th) Kuwait – 3 6th) Palestine – 2
Tuesday 19 November Amman International Stadium, Amman
Having conceded late in a 1-0 defeat on the road in Oman last week, there is now little margin for error for a Palestine side that sit bottom of the section. They will though take comfort from a credible 0-0 draw that they collected in Seoul against Korea Republic back on matchday one and look to upset the group leaders here. Full-back Camilo Saldana is back from suspension for Palestine in a boost, although forward Hwang Heechan remains a notable absentee for the visitors.
Key stat: Korea Republic have lost only one of their last 32 international matches.
Tuesday 19 November Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat
Off the back of a scoreless draw at home to Jordan last week, Iraq travel to Muscat knowing a win here could push them up to the direct qualification spots. For Oman, sitting in fourth, two adrift of the third-placed Lions of Mesopotamia, a win would also rocket them back into top two calculations. In the likes of Aymen Hussein, Ali Jasim and Youssef Amyn, Iraq boast some of the most creative and deadly finishers on the continent but with just four goals in their first five outings, they’ll need to get that frontline fully firing in this tough road trip.
Key stat: Iraq have kept a total of eight clean sheets in their last ten World Cup qualifying matches.
Tuesday 19 November Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City
Winless Kuwait know that they have to take advantage of their three remaining home fixtures if they are to keep the dreams of reaching a second global finals alive. Asian Cup finalists Jordan sit second in the section and will be buoyed by a solid showing in a scoreless draw against Iraq in the cauldron of Basra last week. Their all-star frontline of Mousa Al-Tamari, Ali Olwan and Yazan Al-Naimat have scored seven of the eight goals they’ve notched so far in the third round and once again loom as a major source of danger for the visitors.
Key stat: Jordan have lost only one of their last nine World Cup qualifying matches.
Group C
Fixtures
China PR v Japan Indonesia v Saudi Arabia Bahrain v Australia
Standings
1st) Japan – 13 points 2nd) Australia – 6 3rd) Saudi Arabia – 6 4th) China PR – 6 5th) Bahrain – 5 6th) Indonesia – 3
Tuesday 19 November Xiamen Egret Stadium, Xiamen
Having started the third round with three straight defeats, China PR were in real trouble, only for consecutive wins over Indonesia and Bahrain to see them rocket up to fourth. Already without injured superstar Wu Lei and now with further doubts over left-back Li Lei and central midfielder Wang Shangyuan, this is a tough task against a relentless Japan side that have won 10 of their 11 qualifiers on the road to North America. Sitting seven clear at the head of the standings, coach Hajime Moriyasu can perhaps afford the luxury of some squad rotation here and that could possibly see a highly-anticipated return to the XI for Scotland-based forward Kyogo Furuhashi.
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Key stat: Japan last conceded more than one goal in a World Cup qualifying match in a 2-1 defeat against the United Arab Emirates in September 2016.
Tuesday 19 November Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Starting the third round with high expectations and with a squad that has blended in high-profile additions one after another, it’s been a disappointing campaign so far for a winless Indonesia side that sit bottom of the section. For coach Shin Taeyong this is a crucial match against a Saudi Arabia outfit that are coming off a scoreless draw against Australia in Melbourne last week, in the first match for returning coach Herve Renard.
Key stat: Saudi Arabia have lost only three of their last 30 World Cup qualifying matches.
Tuesday 19 November Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa
Having stunned the Socceroos with a 1-0 win on the opening matchday, Bahrain will be looking for a replica of that result having picked up just two points from their four subsequent fixtures. Australia, meanwhile, have made a solid start to life under new coach Tony Popovic with five points from his first three matches at the helm to leave the visitors sitting second at the midway point of the third round.
Key stat: Australia have kept nine clean sheets in their last 12 World Cup qualifying matches.
FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking
Japan (15th) IR Iran (19th) Korea Republic (22nd) Australia (24th) Qatar (46th) Iraq (56th) Uzbekistan (58th) Saudi Arabia (59th) Jordan (64th) United Arab Emirates (68th) Bahrain (76th) Oman (80th) China PR (92nd) Palestine (100th) Kyrgyz Republic (103rd) Korea DPR (111th) Indonesia (130th) Kuwait (135th)
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Ranking
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Team
|
Total Points
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Previous Points
|
+/- points
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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1
|
 Argentina |
1883.5 | 1889 | -5.5 |
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2
|
 France |
1859.85 | 1852 | +7.85 |
|
3
|
 Spain |
1844.33 | 1836 | +8.33 |
|
4
|
 England |
1807.83 | 1817 | -9.17 |
|
5
|
 Brazil |
1784.37 | 1772 | +12.37 |
|
6
|
 Belgium |
1761.27 | 1768 | -6.73 |
|
7
1 |
 Portugal |
1752.68 | 1752 | +0.68 |
|
8
1 |
 Netherlands |
1748.24 | 1760 | -11.76 |
|
9
1 |
 Italy |
1729.4 | 1726 | +3.4 |
|
10
1 |
 Colombia |
1724.37 | 1739 | -14.63 |
EXPLORE FULL MEN’S RANKING
World Cup participations
Korea Republic (11) Japan (7) Australia (6) *1974 and 2006 as an OFC member nation IR Iran (6) Saudi Arabia (6) Korea DPR (2) Indonesia (1) *As the Dutch East Indies Kuwait (1) Iraq (1) United Arab Emirates (1) China PR (1) Qatar (1)
Best World Cup finish
Korea Republic: Fourth place (2002) Korea DPR: Quarter-finals (1966) Japan: Last 16 (2002, 2010, 2018 & 2022) Australia: Last 16 (2006 & 2022) Saudi Arabia: Last 16 (1994) IR Iran: Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018 & 2022) Indonesia: First round (1938) Kuwait: Group stage (1982) Iraq: Group stage (1986) United Arab Emirates: Group stage (1990) China PR: Group stage (2002) Qatar: Group stage (2022)
