On March 20, 2025, the USA, Mexico and Canada learned the first team they would welcome to North America for the 2026 World Cup, as Japan sealed their progression from the third round of AFC qualifying.
The Samurai Blue punched their ticket to the next global gathering courtesy of a 2-0 success over Bahrain, where Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo came up with the crucial goals in the second half.
Japan are the first AFC side to book their spot at the 2026 World Cup, but the third round of AFC qualifying is far from finished, and five other teams will be able to qualify automatically between now and the close of play.
The third stage is split into three groups of six, with the top two sides in each group earning direct qualification, while the teams ranked third and fourth will have the safety net of a fourth round and potential inter-confederation playoff.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the state of play in AFC World Cup qualifying following Japan’s progression to the final tournament.
Group A standings
1. Iran – 19pts (P7 W6 D1 L0 GD +9)
2. Uzbekistan – 16pts (P7 W5 D1 L1 GD +4)
3. United Arab Emirates – 10pts (P7 W3 D1 L3 GD +6)
4. Qatar – 10pts (P7 W3 D1 L3 GD -3)
5. Kyrgyzstan – 3pts (P7 W1 D0 L6 GD -8)
6. North Korea – 2pts (P7 W0 D2 L5 GD -8)
UPCOMING FIXTURES
All kickoff times in UK time
Kyrgyzstan vs. Qatar (March 25 | 1.45pm | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium)
Iran vs. Uzbekistan (March 25 | 4pm | Azadi Stadium)
North Korea vs. UAE (March 25 | 6.15pm | Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium)
STORY SO FAR
After seven matches of the third round, there are two clear favourites in Group A running away from the pack as they look to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with 2022 appearance makers Iran leading the way on 19 points and Uzbekistan sitting on 16.
Both Team Melli and Uzbekistan are already assured of the fourth round at the very worst, as Iran overcame the UAE 2-0 in their opening March battle, while the latter eked out a 1-0 success versus Kyrgyzstan, who will not be progressing.
Hosting football’s biggest tournament at the end of 2022, Qatar have serious work to do in order to make it to back-to-back competitions for the first time in their humble history, with the Maroons only fourth in the standings with 10 points, below the UAE on goal difference.
Qatar at least enhanced their prospects of breaking the top two by thumping already-eliminated North Korea 5-1 on March 20, but they still have some serious ground to make up.
Group B standings
1. South Korea – 15pts (P7 W4 D3 L0 GD +7)
2. Jordan – 12pts (P7 W3 D3 L1 GD +6)
3. Iraq – 12pts (P7 W3 D3 L1 GD +2)
4. Oman – 7ts (P7 W2 D1 L4 GD -3)
5. Kuwait – 5pts (P7 W0 D5 L2 GD -6)
6. Palestine – 3pts (P7 W0 D3 L4 GD -6)
UPCOMING FIXTURES
All kickoff times in UK time
South Korea vs. Jordan (March 25 | 11am | Suwon World Cup Stadium)
Palestine vs. Iraq (March 25 | 6.15pm | Amman International Stadium)
Kuwait vs. Oman (March 25 | 6.15pm | Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium)
STORY SO FAR
Reaching the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before losing to South American giants Brazil, South Korea are the unsurprising frontrunners at the top of Group B heading into the last three fixtures, with the East Asians unbeaten across their first seven matches.
Three points ahead of second-placed Jordan and Iraq in third, South Korea have already guaranteed themselves a fourth-placed finish at the very worst and are on the brink of punching their ticket to North America.
The Koreans could only draw 1-1 with fourth-placed Oman in their opening March battle, while Iraq rescued a 2-2 stalemate with Kuwait in the most astonishing circumstances, having been 2-0 down in the 90th minute before fighting back.
However, Kuwait and Palestine are yet to earn their first wins of the third round of qualification, and the latter were officially eliminated from contention when they lost 3-1 to Jordan on March 20.
Group C standings
1. Japan – 19pts (P7 W6 D1 L0 GD +22)
2. Australia – 10pts (P7 W2 D4 L1 GD +5)
3. Saudi Arabia – 9pts (P7 W2 D3 L2 GD -2)
4. Indonesia – 7pts (P7 W1 D3 L3 GD -7)
5. Bahrain – 6pts (P7 W1 D3 L3 GD -7)
6. China – 6pts (P7 W2 D0 L5 GD -11)
UPCOMING FIXTURES
All kickoff times in UK time
Japan vs. Saudi Arabia (March 25 | 10.35am | Saitama Stadium 2002)
China vs. Australia (March 25 | 11am | Hangzhou Sports Park Stadium)
Indonesia vs. Bahrain (March 25 | 1.45pm | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium)
STORY SO FAR
Containing three nations who were highly competitive at the most recent edition of the World Cup, it is not a surprise to see a tightly-fought race for a top-two finish in Group C, although one particular country is already packing their bags and heading to North America.
Japan are the only side in the section who still possess their unbeaten record, and the Samurai Blue officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup by virtue of a 2-0 success over Bahrain on March 20.
Trailing Japan in a distant second are fellow Jules Rimet regulars Australia, who thumped Indonesia 5-1 earlier this week but are nine points off the American-bound Samurai Blue, while Saudi Arabia are a further point behind.
The Gulf state earned a 1-0 victory against China in their opening World Cup qualifier of 2025, but the latter are one of three teams on six points alongside Bahrain and Indonesia, leaving the fight for a second-placed finish impossible to call.
