New Schedule and Format for 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers: Focus on Qatar and Saudi Arabia

The AFC has officially announced that the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers will be held in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Six participating nations will be divided into two groups, with matches scheduled for October 8–14, 2025. This format allows for time efficiency and better oversight of the competition.

Group winners will earn direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup, while the second-placed teams will advance to the Asian playoff round. The decision sparked reactions from Iraq, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, who had previously submitted bids to host, but the AFC chose Qatar and Saudi Arabia based on facilities and experience.

Erick Thohir stressed that Indonesia will play all matches away and is ready to face the challenge on neutral ground, with hopes for a fair tournament.