2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round

A total of twenty teams were drawn into ten home-and-away ties, the winners of which advanced to the second round.{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/fifa_world_cup/news/stage_set_for_fifa_world_cup_2026_and_afc_asian_cup_saudi_arabia_2027%E2%84%A2_qualifiers_draw.html |title=Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers draw |publisher=AFC |date=5 July 2023 |access-date=5 July 2023}} As the second round draw occurred on the same date as the first round draw,{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/football_calendar.html|title=AFC Competitions Calendar (Jun 2023 - May 2024) |publisher=AFC|date=19 May 2023|access-date=26 June 2023}} each winner already knew their second round schedule.

The schedule was as follows:

The draw for the first round was held on 27 July 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/fifa_world_cup/news/seedings_revealed_for_fifa_world_cup_2026_and_afc_asian_cup_saudi_arabia_2027%E2%84%A2_qualifiers_draw.html |title=Seedings revealed for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers draw |publisher=AFC |date=27 July 2023 |access-date=27 July 2023}}

These 20 teams were divided into ten pairings, with each pair playing home and away across 12 and 17 October 2023. The numbers in parentheses indicate the FIFA Men's World Ranking of July 2023.

Note: Bolded teams qualified for the second round.

The ten winners advanced to the second round of qualifying.

{{#invoke:Sports series|main|flag=n

|{{fb-rt|AFG}}|2–0|{{fb|MNG}}|1–0|1–0

|{{fb-rt|MDV}}|2–3|{{fb|BAN}}|1–1|1–2

|{{fb-rt|SGP}}|3–1|{{fb|GUM}}|2–1|1–0

|{{fb-rt|YEM}}|4–1|{{fb|SRI}}|3–0|1–1

|{{fb-rt|MYA}}|5–1|{{fb|MAC}}|5–1|0–0

|{{fb-rt|CAM}}|0–1|{{fb|PAK}}|0–0|0–1

|{{fb-rt|TPE}}|7–0|{{fb|TLS}}|4–0|3–0

|{{fb-rt|IDN}}|12–0|{{fb|BRU}}|6–0|6–0

|{{fb-rt|HKG}}|4–2|{{fb|BHU}}|4–0|0–2

|{{fb-rt|NEP}}|2–1|{{fb|LAO}}|1–1|1–0

}}

{{Football box

| id = Afghanistan v Mongolia

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|19:00|5}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|AFG}}

| score = 1–0

| team2 = {{fb|MNG}}

| goals1 =

• Sharza {{goal|60}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe (Tajikistan){{refn|group="note"|Afghanistan played their home game at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Afghan conflict.}}

| attendance = 1,456

| referee = Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017147

}}

{{Football box

| id = Mongolia v Afghanistan

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|15:00|8}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|MNG}}

| score = 0–1

| team2 = {{fb|AFG}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Noor {{goal|72}}

| stadium = MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar

| attendance = 2,185

| referee = Hassan Akrami (Iran)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017159

}}

Afghanistan won 2–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

| id = Maldives v Bangladesh

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|16:00|5}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|MDV}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|BAN}}

| goals1 =

• Nazeem {{goal|87}}

| goals2 =

• Saad {{goal|90+2}}

| stadium = National Football Stadium, Malé

| attendance = 2,500

| referee = Vahid Kazemi (Iran)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017151

}}

{{Football box

|id = Bangladesh v Maldives

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|17:45|6}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BAN}}

|score = 2–1

|team2 = {{fb|MDV}}

|goals1 =

• Rakib {{goal|11}}
• Fahim {{goal|46}}

|goals2 =

• Aisam {{goal|36}}

|stadium = Bashundhara Kings Arena, Dhaka

|attendance = 6,729

|referee = Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017160

}}

Bangladesh won 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

|id = Singapore v Guam

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|19:30|8}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|SGP}}

|score = 2–1

|team2 = {{fb|GUM}}

|goals1 =

• Van Huizen {{goal|35}}
• Mahler {{goal|41}}

|goals2 =

• Cunliffe {{goal|90}}

|stadium = National Stadium, Singapore

|attendance = 10,355

|referee = Mohammad Ghabayen (Jordan)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017154

}}

{{Football box

|id = Guam v Singapore

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|14:45|10}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|GUM}}

|score = 0–1

|team2 = {{fb|SGP}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

• Shawal {{goal|81}}

|stadium = GFA National Training Center, Dededo

|attendance = 1,012

|referee = Chen Hsin-chuan (Chinese Taipei)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017158

}}

Singapore won 3–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

| id = Yemen v Sri Lanka

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|20:00|3}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|YEM}}

| score = 3–0

| team2 = {{fb|SRI}}

| goals1 =

• Maher {{goal|33}}
• Al-Gahwashi {{goal|67}}
• Al-Matari {{goal|90+3}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Damac Club Stadium, Khamis Mushait (Saudi Arabia){{refn|group="note"|Yemen played their home game at a neutral venue due to the ongoing civil war in Yemen.}}

| attendance = 1,526

| referee = Nasrullo Kabirov (Tajikistan)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017155

}}

{{Football box

| id = Sri Lanka v Yemen

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|15:00|5:30}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|SRI}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|YEM}}

| goals1 =

• Rathnayake {{goal|89}}

| goals2 =

• Al-Matari {{goal|4}}

| stadium = Colombo Racecourse, Colombo

| attendance = 3,000

| referee = Clifford Daypuyat (Philippines)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017165

}}

Yemen won 4–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

|id = Myanmar v Macau

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|16:00|6:30}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|MYA}}

|score = 5–1

|team2 = {{fb|MAC}}

|goals1 =

• Lwin Moe Aung {{goal|39||90+5}}
• Soe Moe Kyaw {{goal|62}}
• Aung Kaung Mann {{goal|81}}
• Nay Moe Naing {{goal|90+1}}

| goals2 =

• Torrão {{goal|55}}

|stadium = Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon

|attendance = 6,213

|referee = Pranjal Banerjee (India)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017152

}}

{{Football box

| id = Macau v Myanmar

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|19:30|8}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|MAC}}

| score = 0–0

| team2 = {{fb|MYA}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Estádio Campo Desportivo, Macau

| attendance = 2,187

| referee = Salim Al-Majarafi (Oman)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017163

}}

Myanmar won 5–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

|id = Cambodia v Pakistan

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|19:00|7}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|CAM}}

|score = 0–0

|team2 = {{fb|PAK}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh

|attendance = 11,718

|referee = Baraa Aisha (Palestine)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017156

}}

{{Football box

|id = Pakistan v Cambodia

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|14:00|5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PAK}}

|score = 1–0

|team2 = {{fb|CAM}}

|goals1 =

• Hamid {{goal|68}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad

|attendance = 13,152

|referee = Feras Taweel (Syria)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017164

}}

Pakistan won 1–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

|id = Chinese Taipei v Timor-Leste

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|19:00|8}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|TPE}}

|score = 4–0

|team2 = {{fb|TLS}}

|goals1 =

• Yu Yao-hsing {{goal|4||60}}
• Chen Ting-yang {{goal|57}}
• Ko Yu-ting {{goal|88}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = National Stadium, Kaohsiung

|attendance = 1,894

|referee = Ismaeel Habib Ali (Bahrain)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017148

}}

{{Football box

| id = Timor-Leste v Chinese Taipei

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|19:00|8}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|TLS}}

| score = 0–3

| team2 = {{fb|TPE}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Yu Chia-huang {{goal|18}}
• Wu Yen-shu {{goal|21}}
• Kouamé {{goal|24}}

| stadium = National Stadium, Kaohsiung (Taiwan){{refn|group="note"|Timor-Leste played their home game in Kaohsiung, due to the National Stadium in Dili failing to meet FIFA standards.}}

| attendance = 745

| referee = Tejas Nagvenkar (India)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017166

}}

Chinese Taipei won 7–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

| id = Indonesia v Brunei

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|19:00|7}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|IDN}}

| score = 6–0

| team2 = {{fb|BRU}}

| goals1 =

• Dimas {{goal|7||72||90+2}}
• Ridho {{goal|12}}
• Sananta {{goal|63|pen.|67}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta

| attendance = 23,318

| referee = Bijan Heydari (Iran)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017150

}}

{{Football box

| id = Brunei v Indonesia

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|20:15|8}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BRU}}

| score = 0–6

| team2 = {{fb|IDN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Hokky {{goal|6||44}}
• Egy {{goal|42}}
• Witan {{goal|47|pen.}}
• Ridho {{goal|63|}}
• Sananta {{goal|82}}

| stadium = Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan

| attendance = 17,281

| referee = Ahmed Faisal Al-Ali (Jordan)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017161

}}

Indonesia won 12–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

|id = Hong Kong v Bhutan

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|20:00|8}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|HKG}}

|score = 4–0

|team2 = {{fb|BHU}}

|goals1 =

• Udebuluzor {{goal|10||16}}
• S. Chan {{goal|28}}
• Norbu {{goal|35|o.g.}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong

|attendance = 10,259

|referee = Razlan Joffri Ali (Malaysia)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017149

}}

{{Football box

| id = Bhutan v Hong Kong

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|18:00|6}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BHU}}

| score = 2–0

| team2 = {{fb|HKG}}

| goals1 =

• Gyeltshen {{goal|28}}
• Chogyal {{goal|47}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu

| attendance = 5,300

| referee = Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017157

}}

Hong Kong won 4–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

----

{{Football box

|id = Nepal v Laos

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|17:30|5:45}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|NEP}}

|score = 1–1

|team2 = {{fb|LAO}}

|goals1 =

• Bista {{goal|48}}

|goals2 =

• Bounkong {{goal|33}}

|stadium = Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu

|attendance = 11,235

|referee = Nivon Robesh Gamini (Sri Lanka)

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017153

}}

{{Football box

| id = Laos v Nepal

| date = {{Start date|2023|10|17|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|19:00|7}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|LAO}}

| score = 0–1

| team2 = {{fb|NEP}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Dangi {{goal|53}}

| stadium = New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane

| attendance = 9,772

| referee = Ali Reda (Lebanon)

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288264/400017162

}}

Nepal won 2–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

The first round doubled as preliminary qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. As originally planned, the top-ranked losing team would progress directly to the third round of Asian Cup qualifying, while the remainder would join the Northern Mariana Islands in the play-off round.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_competitions/news/asia%E2%80%99s_pathway_to_the_fifa_world_cup_2026_and_afc_asian_cup%E2%84%A2_2027_confirmed.html|title=Asia's pathway to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 confirmed|publisher=AFC|date=1 August 2022}}{{cite web |title=AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_competitions/news/afc_competitions_committee_approves_key_decisions_on_reformatted_competitions_1.html |publisher=AFC |access-date=1 July 2023 |date=1 July 2023}} However, Guam withdrew and the Northern Mariana Islands were not included in the draw for the play-off round announced on 1 May 2024.{{cite web |last1=Cepeda |first1=Joseph |title=Executive Committee Decisions |url=https://guamfa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Committees-Executive-Committee-Decisions-April-5-2024.pdf |publisher=Guam Football Association |access-date=13 February 2025}} This resulted in the top three losing teams (Bhutan, Maldives, and Laos) moving directly to the third round, and the remaining six teams entering the play-off round.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/news/six_teams_to_contest_qualifiers_playoff_for_saudi_arabia_2027.html|title=Six teams to contest Qualifiers Playoff for Saudi Arabia 2027|publisher=AFC|date=2 May 2024|access-date=2 May 2024}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Lower disciplinary points total; 5) Drawing of lots.{{cite web|title=AFC Competition Operations Manual (Edition 2023)|url=https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/miscellaneous-regulations/AFC-Competition-Operations-Manual-(Edition-2023).pdf|publisher=Asian Football Confederation}}

|source=[https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/asian_qualifiers/fixtures__standings.html AFC]

|name_MNG={{fb|MNG}}

|name_MDV={{fb|MDV}}

|name_GUM={{fb|GUM}}

|name_SRI={{fb|SRI}}

|name_MAC={{fb|MAC}}

|name_CAM={{fb|CAM}}

|name_TLS={{fb|TLS}}

|name_BRU={{fb|BRU}}

|name_BHU={{fb|BHU}}

|name_LAO={{fb|LAO}}

|update=complete

|win_MNG=0 |draw_MNG=0 |loss_MNG=2 |gf_MNG=0 |ga_MNG=2

|win_MDV=0 |draw_MDV=1 |loss_MDV=1 |gf_MDV=2 |ga_MDV=3

|win_GUM=0 |draw_GUM=0 |loss_GUM=2 |gf_GUM=1 |ga_GUM=3

|win_SRI=0 |draw_SRI=1 |loss_SRI=1 |gf_SRI=1 |ga_SRI=4

|win_MAC=0 |draw_MAC=1 |loss_MAC=1 |gf_MAC=1 |ga_MAC=5

|win_CAM=0 |draw_CAM=1 |loss_CAM=1 |gf_CAM=0 |ga_CAM=1

|win_TLS=0 |draw_TLS=0 |loss_TLS=2 |gf_TLS=0 |ga_TLS=7

|win_BRU=0 |draw_BRU=0 |loss_BRU=2 |gf_BRU=0 |ga_BRU=12

|win_BHU=1 |draw_BHU=0 |loss_BHU=1 |gf_BHU=2 |ga_BHU=4

|win_LAO=0 |draw_LAO=1 |loss_LAO=1 |gf_LAO=1 |ga_LAO=2

|team_order=BHU, MDV, LAO, CAM, SRI, MAC, GUM, MNG, TLS, BRU

|res_col_header=Q

|result1=AC |result2=AC |result3=AC |result4=ACPO |result5=ACPO |result6=ACPO |result7=WD |result8=ACPO |result9=ACPO |result10=ACPO

|col_AC=blue1 |text_AC=Asian Cup qualifying third round

|col_ACPO=yellow1 |text_ACPO=Asian Cup qualifying play-off round

|col_WD=black1 |text_WD=Withdrew from play-off round

}}

{{#invoke:Goalscorers|main|2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|round=firstround}}

A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following infractions:{{cite web| url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/18d857c3ec3e64f8/original/FIFA-World-Cup-2026-Preliminary-Competition_EN.pdf |title=Regulations: FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition |publisher=FIFA |date=June 2023 |access-date=15 November 2023}}

• Receiving a red card (red card suspensions may be extended for serious infractions)
• Receiving two yellow cards in two different matches (yellow card suspensions are carried forward to further qualification rounds, but not the finals or any other future international matches)

The following suspension was served during the first round:

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist}}

{{2026 FIFA World Cup qualification}}

{{2027 AFC Asian Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2026 FIFA World Cup qualification - AFC first round}}

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Category:2023 in Asian football

FIFA World Cup qualification, AFC Round 1