World Cup 2026: China drawn with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia for next qualifying round
China have been handed a massively difficult task of qualifying for their second World Cup finals appearance after being drawn against heavyweights Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia in the third round of Asia’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Not surprisingly, the hashtag “National football, group of death” shot to the top of Weibo’s trending list after the draw, attracting more than 10 million views.
Many users of the social media site did not fancy China’s chances of progressing from the pool, which also includes Bahrain and Indonesia.
“Actually, whatever group China are in, it will always be the group of death,” one popular comment said.
Another user said: “Well, just wish China doesn’t concede too many, and strives for honour in defeat.”
Yet another pessimistic comment read: “Prepare for [World Cup] 2030.”
The draw has left the Chinese facing a daunting challenge to secure a place at their first World Cup since making their debut – and so far only – appearance in 2002.
“It’s a tough draw for us,” said China coach Branko Ivankovic.
“It’s the toughest group compared to the A and B groups but this is something we expected because we were in the fifth pot and we know that we cannot find a weak team.”
The 18 remaining Asian teams battling it out for eight direct qualification places were drawn into three third-round groups of six at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
Son Heung-min’s South Korea were given a more straightforward-looking assignment than their biggest Asian rivals when they were drawn in Group B to face Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait.
The Koreans will be favourites to advance but take on a Jordan side that defeated them in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup earlier this year.
A resurgent Iraq, meanwhile, are attempting to qualify for a first World Cup since 1986.
World Cup regulars Iran head Group A, and will play Asian Cup champions Qatar, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and North Korea.
The Iranians will be aiming to progress to a fourth World Cup in a row – and seventh in total – after appearing in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and take on a Qatar side attempting to qualify for the tournament for the first time.
The Qataris, who won a second consecutive Asian Cup title in February, played at the 2022 edition as hosts but have never progressed to the finals through the preliminaries.
Four-times Asian champions Japan, who have qualified for the past seven World Cup tournaments, will face familiar foes in Saudi Arabia and Australia, both of whom were also in the final phase of qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.
Hajime Moriyasu’s side topped the group and were joined in securing an automatic berth at the most recent tournament by the Saudis while Australia eventually qualified via an intercontinental playoff.
Matches will be played on a home-and-away basis from September 2024 to June 2025, with the top two in each of the three groups qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup.
Teams finishing third and fourth will advance to the fourth round where they will be split into two groups of three with group winners both claiming a direct qualifying spot.
The two second-placed teams will then face each other in November 2025, with the winner progressing to the Fifa intercontinental play-off tournament to decide the final berth.
The expanded 48-team World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Third round AFC qualification draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup:
Group A: Iran, Qatar, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea
Group B: South Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, Kuwait
Group C: Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, Indonesia
