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AFC qualifying thread

Indonesia with a goalless draw against Lebanon. The latter beat Qatar recently and a good result here too.

Massive October playoffs coming in the AFC.
 
NicCarBel

Post in thread '2026 UEFA WC Qualification'

Am doing this here first, as this is the one that will be most affected

Disclaimer* - bold nations are already qualified - confirmed for the playoff stage. These are SOLELY using the current standings of WCQ groups - the only exception will be the rest of AFC as this has not started (using seeds as the basis)

EDIT: Have updated as of 10 Sep 2025 AM AEST

Intercontinental Playoffs

  • Iraq (58)
  • Bolivia (80)
  • New Caledonia (150)
  • Congo DR (60)
  • El Salvador (88)
  • Curacao (84)

AFC
  • Japan (18)
  • Iran (21)
  • Uzbekistan...
  • Like
 
Going to be an exciting playoff time next window. Paramount showing the games I believe.
 
Kitwally said:
The visitors play their games 3 days apart while the Saudi/Qatari hosts get a 6 day break between games FFS
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Saudi Arabia and Qatar scheduled to have their byes at the same time which leads to the six day turnaround but if the scheduling has led to them getting an unfair advantage as opposed to the visitors then it's safe to say the game's gone.
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Saudi Arabia and Qatar scheduled to have their byes at the same time which leads to the six day turnaround but if the scheduling has led to them getting an unfair advantage as opposed to the visitors then it's safe to say the game's gone.
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In a three team mini-tournament like these, then one team has to get the longer break. However, it should be done via a random draw, and not via a deliberate move designed to favour Qatar and Saudi, who already have the home ground advantage anyway. But, we know who controls AFC.
 
Keeper66 said:
In a three team mini-tournament like these, then one team has to get the longer break. However, it should be done via a random draw, and not via a deliberate move designed to favour Qatar and Saudi, who already have the home ground advantage anyway. But, we know who controls AFC.
Click to expand...
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Saudi Arabia and Qatar scheduled to have their byes at the same time which leads to the six day turnaround but if the scheduling has led to them getting an unfair advantage as opposed to the visitors then it's safe to say the game's gone.
Click to expand...
Kitwally said:
www.theguardian.com

Three years on from stadium disaster, Indonesian football has a positive story to tell

The World Cup is in reach for Patrick Kluivert’s side and, though problems persist, things are looking up in one of Asia’s most passionate football nations
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

The visitors play their games 3 days apart while the Saudi/Qatari hosts get a 6 day break between games FFS
Click to expand...
If they're the top seeds of this round, I can't see this actually being an issue to be honest.

In saying that, it shouldn't have been hosted there as well, if that's the reasoning for giving them the preferential breaks. Should be one or the other.
 
NicCarBel said:
If they're the top seeds of this round, I can't see this actually being an issue to be honest.

In saying that, it shouldn't have been hosted there as well, if that's the reasoning for giving them the preferential breaks. Should be one or the other.
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Seems very suspicious that they are hosting and getting the six day break!
 
Imaging the Saudi Indonesia group being hosted in Australia. It would've been an Indonesian fan invasion. An opportunity lost but the AFC would never have accepted it being outside of the ME on neutral territory. Maybe in the UAE.
 
Crept up with games being on Wednesday. On Paramount plus. Here's hoping for some upsets.
 
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Really interesting how this 3 game system could play out. For example. Indonesia beat Saudi then draw with Iraq. Saudi wouldn't be able to win the group by the time they play Iraq. There is also the 5th round consolation which some teams will be keen to get if they slip up. It's nice not having to be a part of this.
 
Really hoping the Indonesians can cause an upset and get through. I work with a team from over there and had some good football chats with them when I visited them in Jakarta earlier in the year (we hadn’t qualified at that time). They were a lot more confident of Australia getting the direct spot than I was!
 
10-man Saudi Arabia defeated Indonesia 3-2 and Oman got a scoreless draw with Qatar in the first set of AFC fourth round qualifiers.
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
10-man Saudi Arabia defeated Indonesia 3-2 and Oman got a scoreless draw with Qatar in the first set of AFC fourth round qualifiers.
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Apparently Indonesia didn’t offer much and the Saudi’s had the usual fuckery to close out the game in the last 20mins or more after it got back to 3-2
 
Kitwally said:
Apparently Indonesia didn’t offer much and the Saudi’s had the usual fuckery to close out the game in the last 20mins or more after it got back to 3-2
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It was 3-1 from 62nd minute. Indonesia only got their second in the 88th minute. Saudi only went down to ten players 3 minutes into stoppage time.
 
Ok. I stand corrected. I think there was 9 minutes of stoppage time though, and should have been more?
 
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