2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round

The third round[note 1] of AFC matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification was played from 2 September 2021 to 29 March 2022.[1][2][3]

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round
Tournament details
Dates2 September 2021 – 29 March 2022
Teams12 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played60
Goals scored122 (2.03 per match)
Attendance639,277 (10,655 per match)
Top scorer(s)China Wu Lei
Iran Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Iran Mehdi Taremi
Japan Junya Itō
Saudi Arabia Saleh Al-Shehri
South Korea Son Heung-min
(4 goals each)
2018
2026

Format

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The twelve teams that advanced from the second round (the seven group winners excluding Qatar and the five best group runners-up) were divided into two groups of six teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top two teams of each group qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the two third-placed teams advanced to the fourth round. World Cup hosts Qatar won Group E in the second round (which meant they advanced to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup finals) but were not required to qualify for the World Cup.

Qualified teams

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Group
(Second round)
Winners Best 5 Runners-up[note 2]
A   Syria   China
B   Australia
C   Iran   Iraq
D   Saudi Arabia
E   Qatar[note 3]   Oman
F   Japan
G   United Arab Emirates   Vietnam
H   South Korea   Lebanon

Draw and seeding

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The draw for the third round was held on 1 July 2021 at 15:00 MST (UTC+8), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[5]

The seeding for the draw was based on a special release of the FIFA Men's World Rankings for Asian teams on 18 June 2021 (shown in parentheses below).[6]

Each group contained one team from each of the six pots.

Note: Bolded teams qualified directly for the World Cup. Italicised teams qualified for the fourth round.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3
  1.   Japan (24)
  2.   Iran (26)
  1.   Australia (35)
  2.   South Korea (36)
Pot 4 Pot 5 Pot 6
  1.   Iraq (70)
  2.   China (71)
  1.   Oman (79)
  2.   Syria (80)
  1.   Vietnam (92)
  2.   Lebanon (98)

Schedule

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, FIFA announced on 12 August 2020 that the upcoming qualifying matches originally scheduled for 2020 were moved to 2021,[7] and on 11 November, the AFC Competitions Committee also announced that the final round of the Asian qualifiers would begin in September 2021 and be finished by March 2022.[8]

Matchday Date Original date
Matchday 1 2 September 2021 3 September 2020
Matchday 2 7 September 2021 8 September 2020
Matchday 3 7 October 2021 13 October 2020
Matchday 4 12 October 2021 12 November 2020
Matchday 5 11 November 2021 17 November 2020
Matchday 6 16 November 2021 25 March 2021
Matchday 7 27 January 2022 30 March 2021
Matchday 8 1 February 2022 8 June 2021
Matchday 9 24 March 2022 7 September 2021
Matchday 10 29 March 2022 12 October 2021

Groups

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Iran 10 8 1 1 15 4 +11 25 2022 FIFA World Cup 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0
2   South Korea 10 7 2 1 13 3 +10 23 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–0
3   United Arab Emirates 10 3 3 4 7 7 0 12 Fourth round 0–1 1–0 2–2 2–0 0–0
4   Iraq 10 1 6 3 6 12 −6 9 0–3 0–3 1–0 1–1 0–0
5   Syria 10 1 3 6 9 16 −7 6 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3
6   Lebanon 10 1 3 6 5 13 −8 6 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–3
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
South Korea  0–0  Iraq
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Iran  1–0  Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
United Arab Emirates  0–0  Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 1,513
Referee: Ma Ning (China PR)

South Korea  1–0  Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Syria  1–1  United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,370
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Iraq  0–3  Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

South Korea  2–1  Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Iraq  0–0  Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
United Arab Emirates  0–1  Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Taremi   70'
Attendance: 3,034

Iran  1–1  South Korea
Jahanbakhsh   76' Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Son Heung-min   48'
United Arab Emirates  2–2  Iraq
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,820
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Syria  2–3  Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,377

South Korea  1–0  United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 30,152
Referee: Ma Ning (China PR)
Lebanon  1–2  Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Iraq  1–1  Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Iraq  0–3  South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Syria  0–3  Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 907
Referee: Ma Ning (China PR)
Lebanon  0–1  United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Lebanon  0–1  South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Iran  1–0  Iraq
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 9,354
United Arab Emirates  2–0  Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,450
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Lebanon  1–1  Iraq
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Syria  0–2  South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Rashid Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)[note 6]
Attendance: 310
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
Iran  1–0  United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

South Korea  2–0  Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 64,375
Lebanon  0–3  Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Iraq  1–0  United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 1,320
Referee: Ma Ning (China PR)

Iran  2–0  Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 22,453
Referee: Fu Ming (China PR)
United Arab Emirates  1–0  South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 4,223
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Syria  1–1  Iraq
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Rashid Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)[note 6]
Attendance: 3,710
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Saudi Arabia 10 7 2 1 12 6 +6 23 2022 FIFA World Cup 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–2 3–1
2   Japan 10 7 1 2 12 4 +8 22 2–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 1–1
3   Australia 10 4 3 3 15 9 +6 15 Fourth round 0–0 0–2 3–1 3–0 4–0
4   Oman 10 4 2 4 11 10 +1 14 0–1 0–1 2–2 2–0 3–1
5   China 10 1 3 6 9 19 −10 6 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 3–2
6   Vietnam 10 1 1 8 8 19 −11 4 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 3–1
Source: FIFA, AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Japan  0–1  Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Australia  3–0  China
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saudi Arabia  3–1  Vietnam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 8,331
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Vietnam  0–1  Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
China  0–1  Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Oman  0–1  Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 8,150
Referee: Hanna Hattab (Syria)

Saudi Arabia  1–0  Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
China  3–2  Vietnam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Australia  3–1  Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Japan  2–1  Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Oman  3–1  Vietnam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saudi Arabia  3–2  China
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 54,124
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Australia  0–0  Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Vietnam  0–1  Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
China  1–1  Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)[note 9]
Attendance: 1,700

China  1–1  Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)[note 9]
Attendance: 1,050
Oman  0–1  Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Vietnam  0–1  Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 9,669
Referee: Hanna Hattab (Syria)

Australia  4–0  Vietnam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Japan  2–0  China
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saudi Arabia  1–0  Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Japan  2–0  Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Vietnam  3–1  China
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Oman  2–2  Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Australia  0–2  Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 41,852
Vietnam  0–1  Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 6,923
Referee: Hanna Hattab (Syria)
China  1–1  Saudi Arabia
Zhu Chenjie   82' (pen.) Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Al-Shehri   45+1'

Japan  1–1  Vietnam
Yoshida   55' Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Nguyễn Thanh Bình   19'
Attendance: 44,600
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Oman  2–0  China
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saudi Arabia  1–0  Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Goalscorers

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There were 122 goals scored in 60 matches, for an average of 2.03 goals per match.

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ On the AFC's official YouTube page, "The AFC Hub," it is referred to as the Final Round.
  2. ^ This would usually be a "Best 4", but because the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar won their group (their participation in the second round was to secure a spot in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup), the draw for the third round of the FIFA World Cup's qualification included 5 runners-up instead.[4]
  3. ^ Qatar had already qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the tournament hosts, but competed in the second round as part of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, the match was played behind closed doors.
  5. ^ a b The Korean FA (South Korea) and Lebanese FA (Lebanon) agreed to switch the order of their home-and-away matches.[9]
  6. ^ a b c d e Due to the Syrian civil war, Syria played its home matches at neutral venues.
  7. ^ a b c d e Due to the security concerns, Iraq played its home matches at neutral venues.
  8. ^ a b Due to the border closures in Australia because of COVID-19 pandemic, Australia played two of their home matches at neutral venues.
  9. ^ a b c d e Due to the quarantine restrictions in China because of COVID-19 pandemic, China played its home matches at neutral venues.

References

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  1. ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar 2021" (PDF). AFC. 17 September 2021.
  2. ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar 2022" (PDF). AFC. 20 October 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. ^ "INTERNATIONAL MATCH CALENDAR 2020-2024" (PDF). FIFA. August 2021.
  4. ^ "Groups finalised for Qatar 2022 & China 2023 race". China.org.cn. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  5. ^ "2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers Draw: When will be the third round matches played?". Goal. 1 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Asia World Cup qualifying: What's next?". FIFA. 18 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Update on upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Asia". FIFA. 12 August 2020.
  8. ^ "2022 FIFA World Cup: Asian qualifiers to be completed by March 2022". Olympics.com. 12 November 2020.
  9. ^ "National confirmation... Lebanon outside its land in September" (in Arabic). 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Socceroos to host China PR in Doha". Football Australia. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Chinese national football team gears up for World Cup qualifiers". Xinhuanet. Xinhua. 19 August 2021.
  12. ^ Francis, Kieran (15 September 2021). "Socceroos World Cup qualifier against Oman won't be played in Australia". Sporting News.
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