World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Asia round-up

Once more, surprises were scant as Asia's giants showcased their prowess during the second round of the FIFA World Cup 26™ preliminary competition. Players such as Son Heung-min, Ayase Ueda, and Saleh Al Shehri seized the spotlight with their goal-scoring prowess, guiding Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to flawless performances in their away fixtures.

While these stalwarts asserted dominance, Malaysia continued their impressive streak in the AFC qualifiers. Meanwhile, setbacks befell teams that triumphed in the opening matches, notably China PR, India, and Vietnam.

Delving into the specifics of each group reveals a tapestry of intriguing clashes and emerging narratives:

In Group A, India succumbed 0-3 to Qatar while Kuwait outplayed Afghanistan 4-0, thanks to Almoez Ali's fifth goal in the 2026 qualifiers, pushing Kuwait ahead of the Blue Tigers on goal difference.

Group B witnessed Japan's formidable display once more as they triumphed 5-0 against Syria, courtesy of Ayase Ueda's brace. Meanwhile, Myanmar faced a similar fate against Korea DPR, setting the stage for a tight battle for the second spot.

Korea Republic's Son Heungmin shone brightly in Group C, securing a 3-0 victory over China PR, solidifying their position at the top. Thailand bounced back with a 3-1 win against Singapore, edging ahead of China PR on goal difference.

Group D saw Malaysia secure another narrow win, this time 1-0 against Chinese Taipei, while Kyrgyz Republic mirrored their success with a 1-0 victory over Oman.

The deadlock persisted in Group E, with Uzbekistan and Iran settling for a thrilling 2-2 draw. Likewise, Hong Kong and Turkmenistan played out a 2-2 stalemate, marking their entry into the points column but failing to bridge the gap with the leading duo.

Iraq's late strike against Vietnam cemented their lead in Group F, clinching a 1-0 victory. Meanwhile, Philippines and Indonesia shared points in a 1-1 draw, leaving Vietnam in second place.

Group G saw Saudi Arabia's commanding 2-0 win against Jordan, led by Saleh Al Shehri's brace, while Tajikistan routed Pakistan 6-1, setting themselves as the closest challengers to the Saudis.

In Group H, United Arab Emirates clinched a 2-0 victory over Bahrain, maintaining their perfect record, while Yemen mirrored their success with an identical scoreline against Nepal.

Australia continued their dominance in Group I with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Palestine, while Bangladesh and Lebanon settled for a 1-1 draw.

Looking ahead, the upcoming fixtures promise more intense battles as teams brace themselves for the next phase of the gripping qualifying campaign.