AFC Asian Qualifiers 2026

Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic - who had skipper Son Heung-min scoring his 50th international goal - tightened their grips on automatic spots to the FIFA World Cup 2026 with wins over DPR Korea and Kuwait respectively.

Uzbekistan and Bahrain suffered late defeats while Australia and Saudi Arabia settled for a goalless draw in their Group C encounter.

Japan, who meet Indonesia in Jakarta on Friday, will move seven points clear at the top of Group C with a win against the Southeast Asian side.

Stay updated on all the action with the-AFC.com.

Mendes struck with 12 added minutes on the clock after Abbosbek Fayzullaev looked to have earned the visitors a point with a pair of headers that had cancelled out Almoez Ali’s first half brace for Tintin Marquez’s side.

The result moves Qatar up to seven points from five matches and to within three of Uzbekistan, who remain in second place in the group but are now three behind the Islamic Republic of Iran following their 3-2 win over DPR Korea earlier in the day.

The win moved UAE to seven points at the midway stage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers while Kyrgyz Republic remained on three.

The stalemate left things unchanged for Jordan and Iraq in Group B as they stayed in second and third respectively, both on eight points and still very much in the hunt for a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The win revived Oman's campaign, with the West Asian side moving up to six points while Palestine remained on two.

The Beijing Guoan striker pounced to steer home Wang Haijian’s centre at the end of a lacklustre clash that only came to life in the dying moments with the home side earlier denied a goal of their own when Ali Haram’s effort was ruled out by VAR.

The win moves the Chinese off the foot of the standings and into fourth place, level on six points with Australia and Saudi Arabia following their 0-0 draw in Melbourne earlier in the day. Bahrain, meanwhile, remain on five points at the halfway point.

Japan still lead the standings with 10 points from four matches ahead of their meeting with Indonesia at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Friday.