2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Second Round

The second round of AFC matches for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification) was played from 24 May 2015 to 29 March 2016.[1]

Format

A total of 40 teams (teams ranked 1–34 in the AFC entrant list and six first round winners) were divided into eight groups of five teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The eight group winners and the four best group runners-up advanced to the third round of FIFA World Cup qualification as well as qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals.

Seeding

The draw for the second round was held on 14 April 2015, at 17:00 MST (UTC+8), at the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[2][3]

The seeding was based on the FIFA World Rankings of April 2015 (shown in parentheses below).[4] The 40 teams were seeded into five pots:[5]

  • Pot 1 contained the teams ranked 1–8.
  • Pot 2 contained the teams ranked 9–16.
  • Pot 3 contained the teams ranked 17–24.
  • Pot 4 contained the teams ranked 25–32.
  • Pot 5 contained the teams ranked 33–40.

Each group contained one team from each of the five pots. The fixtures of each group were automatically decided based on the respective pot of each team.

As the seeding order was based on the most recent FIFA Rankings prior to the draw, it differed from the order in the AFC entrant list, which was based on the FIFA World Rankings of January 2015. Among the six first round winners, three were seeded higher than pot 5 (India in pot 3, Timor-Leste and Bhutan in pot 4), on the basis of ranking points gained from the first round matches, while the other three (Yemen, Cambodia and Chinese Taipei) were seeded in pot 5.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3
  1.  Iran (40)
  2.  Japan (50)
  3.  South Korea (57)
  4.  Australia (63)
  5.  United Arab Emirates (68)
  6.  Uzbekistan (73)
  7.  China PR (82)
  8.  Iraq (86)
  1.  Saudi Arabia (95)
  2.  Oman (97)
  3.  Qatar (99)
  4.  Jordan (103)
  5.  Bahrain (108)
  6.  Vietnam (125)
  7.  Syria (126)
  8.  Kuwait (127)
  1.  Afghanistan (135)
  2.  Philippines (139)
  3.  Palestine (140)
  4.  Maldives (141)
  5.  Thailand (142)
  6.  Tajikistan (143)
  7.  Lebanon (144)
  8.  India (147)
Pot 4 Pot 5
  1.  Timor-Leste (152)
  2.  Kyrgyzstan (153)
  3.  North Korea (157)
  4.  Myanmar (158)
  5.  Turkmenistan (159)
  6.  Indonesia (159) (D)
  7.  Singapore (162)
  8.  Bhutan (163)
  1.  Malaysia (164)
  2.  Hong Kong (167)
  3.  Bangladesh (167)
  4.  Yemen (170)
  5.  Guam (175)
  6.  Laos (178)
  7.  Cambodia (179)
  8.  Chinese Taipei (179)
Notes
  • Bolded teams qualified for the third round.
  • (D): Disqualified after draw

Groups

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Saudi Arabia 8 6 2 0 28 4 +24 20 Third round and Asian Cup 2–1 3–2 2–0 7–0[lower-alpha 1]
2  United Arab Emirates 8 5 2 1 27 4 +23 17 1–1 2–0 10–0 8–0
3  Palestine 8 4 2 2 24 5 +19 14 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–0 0–0 6–0 7–0
4  Malaysia 8 2 0 6 7 29 22 6 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round 0–3[lower-alpha 2] 1–2 0–6 3–0[lower-alpha 1]
5  Timor-Leste[lower-alpha 1] 8 0 0 8 0 44 44 0 0–10 0–3[lower-alpha 1] 0–3[lower-alpha 1] 0–3[lower-alpha 1]
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. Timor-Leste forfeited five group matches due to fielding numerous ineligible players.[9]
  2. The Malaysia v Saudi Arabia match, on 8 September 2015, was abandoned during the 87th minute after a group of supporters threw objects onto the pitch. At the time of the abandonment the score was 2–1 to Saudi Arabia. On 5 October 2015, FIFA decided that this match was forfeited by Malaysia and the result to be declared as a 3–0 win awarded for Saudi Arabia.[7][8]
Malaysia 3–0
Forfeited[10]
 Timor-Leste
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saudi Arabia 3–2 Palestine
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Timor-Leste 0–3
Forfeited[10]
 United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Malaysia 0–6 Palestine
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

United Arab Emirates 10–0 Malaysia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saudi Arabia 7–0
Forfeited[10]
 Timor-Leste
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Timur Faizullin (Kyrgyzstan)

Malaysia 0–3
Awarded[note 3]
 Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Timor-Leste 0–3
Forfeited[10]
 Palestine
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saudi Arabia 2–1 United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 32,482
Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (Singapore)

Timor-Leste 0–3
Forfeited[10]
 Malaysia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Palestine 0–0 Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Palestine 6–0 Malaysia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
United Arab Emirates 8–0 Timor-Leste
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Timor-Leste 0–10 Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Alan Milliner (Australia)
Malaysia 1–2 United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

United Arab Emirates 2–0 Palestine
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saudi Arabia 2–0 Malaysia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Palestine 7–0 Timor-Leste
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Australia 8 7 0 1 29 4 +25 21 Third round and Asian Cup 5–1 3–0 7–0 5–0
2  Jordan 8 5 1 2 21 7 +14 16 Asian Cup qualifying third round 2–0 0–0 3–0 8–0
3  Kyrgyzstan 8 4 2 2 10 8 +2 14 1–2 1–0 2–2 2–0
4  Tajikistan 8 1 2 5 9 20 11 5 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round 0–3 1–3 0–1 5–0
5  Bangladesh 8 0 1 7 2 32 30 1 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Bangladesh 1–3 Kyrgyzstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Sukhbir Singh (Singapore)
Tajikistan 1–3 Jordan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)

Bangladesh 1–1 Tajikistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Lee Min-hu (South Korea)
Kyrgyzstan 1–2 Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 18,000

Australia 5–0 Bangladesh
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 19,495
Jordan 0–0 Kyrgyzstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Bangladesh 0–4 Jordan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Yu Ming-hsun (Chinese Taipei)
Tajikistan 0–3 Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: Jameel Abdulhusin (Bahrain)

Jordan 2–0 Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Kyrgyzstan 2–2 Tajikistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 17,600

Kyrgyzstan 2–0 Bangladesh
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 12,001
Referee: Jameel Abdulhusin (Bahrain)
Jordan 3–0 Tajikistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Australia 3–0 Kyrgyzstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 19,412
Tajikistan 5–0 Bangladesh
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Bangladesh 0–4 Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 19,730
Referee: Wang Di (China)
Kyrgyzstan 1–0 Jordan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Australia 7–0 Tajikistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 35,439
Jordan 8–0 Bangladesh
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (Singapore)

Australia 5–1 Jordan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Tajikistan 0–1 Kyrgyzstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Qatar 8 7 0 1 29 4 +25 21 Third round and Asian Cup 1–0 2–0 4–0 15–0
2  China PR 8 5 2 1 27 1 +26 17 2–0 0–0 4–0 12–0
3  Hong Kong 8 4 2 2 13 5 +8 14 Asian Cup qualifying third round 2–3 0–0 2–0 7–0
4  Maldives 8 2 0 6 8 20 12 6 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round 0–1 0–3 0–1 4–2
5  Bhutan 8 0 0 8 5 52 47 0 0–3 0–6 0–1 3–4
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Hong Kong 7–0 Bhutan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Maldives 0–1 Qatar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Bhutan 0–6 China PR
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Hong Kong 2–0 Maldives
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 6,370

China PR 0–0 Hong Kong
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 26,173
Qatar 15–0 Bhutan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Maldives 0–3 China PR
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 28,036
Referee: Sukhbir Singh (Singapore)
Hong Kong 2–3 Qatar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Bhutan 3–4 Maldives
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Qatar 1–0 China PR
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Bhutan 0–1 Hong Kong
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 7,280
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)
Qatar 4–0 Maldives
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 4,006
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

Maldives 0–1 Hong Kong
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
China PR 12–0 Bhutan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Bhutan 0–3 Qatar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 4,128
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Hong Kong 0–0 China PR
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

China PR 4–0 Maldives
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Qatar 2–0 Hong Kong
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 10,170
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)

China PR 2–0 Qatar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Maldives 4–2 Bhutan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iran 8 6 2 0 26 3 +23 20 Third round and Asian Cup 2–0 3–1 6–0 4–0
2  Oman 8 4 2 2 11 7 +4 14 Asian Cup qualifying third round 1–1 3–1 1–0 3–0
3  Turkmenistan 8 4 1 3 10 11 1 13 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–1
4  Guam 8 2 1 5 3 16 13 7 0–6 0–0 1–0 2–1
5  India 8 1 0 7 5 18 13 3 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round 0–3[lower-alpha 1] 1–2 1–2 1–0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. FIFA awarded Iran a 3–0 win as a result of India fielding the ineligible player Eugeneson Lyngdoh.[21] The match initially ended 3–0 to Iran.
Guam 1–0 Turkmenistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
India 1–2 Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Guam 2–1 India
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Turkmenistan 1–1 Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Jameel Abdulhusin (Bahrain)

Iran 6–0 Guam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 11,232
Oman 3–1 Turkmenistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (Singapore)

Guam 0–0 Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,239
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
India 0–3
Awarded[note 6]
 Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Turkmenistan 2–1 India
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 20,100
Referee: Masoud Tufayelieh (Syria)
Oman 1–1 Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Turkmenistan 1–0 Guam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Oman 3–0 India
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Iran 3–1 Turkmenistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 35,800
India 1–0 Guam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Guam 0–6 Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,087
Referee: Ho Wai Sing (Hong Kong)
Turkmenistan 2–1 Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 23,100
Referee: Ma Ning (China)

Iran 4–0 India
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 29,160
Oman 1–0 Guam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Jameel Abdulhusin (Bahrain)

India 1–2 Turkmenistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Iran 2–0 Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 33,850
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Japan 8 7 1 0 27 0 +27 22 Third round and Asian Cup 5–0 0–0 5–0 3–0
2  Syria 8 6 0 2 26 11 +15 18 0–3 1–0 5–2 6–0
3  Singapore 8 3 1 4 9 9 0 10 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 1–2 1–0 2–1
4  Afghanistan 8 3 0 5 8 24 16 9 0–6 0–6 2–1 3–0
5  Cambodia 8 0 0 8 1 27 26 0 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round 0–2 0–6 0–4 0–1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Cambodia 0–4 Singapore
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 63,000
Afghanistan 0–6 Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 7,647
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Japan 0–0 Singapore
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Cambodia 0–1 Afghanistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Japan 3–0 Cambodia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Syria 1–0 Singapore
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 100
Referee: Yousef Al-Marzouq (Kuwait)

Cambodia 0–6 Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Wang Di (China)
Afghanistan 0–6 Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 8,650
Referee: Khamis Al-Kuwari (Qatar)

Singapore 1–0 Afghanistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 5,400
Referee: Ng Chiu Kok (Hong Kong)
Syria 0–3 Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Singapore 2–1 Cambodia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 6,650
Referee: Kim Dae-yong (South Korea)
Syria 5–2 Afghanistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 200
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)

Singapore 0–3 Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Afghanistan 3–0 Cambodia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Singapore 1–2 Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Cambodia 0–2 Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 29,871
Referee: Fu Ming (China)

Japan 5–0 Afghanistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Syria 6–0 Cambodia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Afghanistan 2–1 Singapore
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 24,500
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Japan 5–0 Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 57,475

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Thailand 6 4 2 0 14 6 +8 14 Third round and Asian Cup 2–2 1–0 4–2
2  Iraq 6 3 3 0 13 6 +7 12 2–2 1–0 5–1
3  Vietnam 6 2 1 3 7 8 1 7 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 1–1 4–1
4  Chinese Taipei 6 0 0 6 5 19 14 0 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round 0–2 0–2 1–2
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Indonesia was also drawn into this group, but on 30 May 2015 the country's football association was suspended due to governmental interference,[25] and on 3 June 2015 the team was disqualified and all matches involving it were cancelled.[26]

Thailand 1–0 Vietnam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 40,500

Chinese Taipei 0–2 Thailand
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 18,168
Referee: Ali Shaban (Kuwait)

Iraq 5–1 Chinese Taipei
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 4,200

Chinese Taipei 1–2 Vietnam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 20,239
Referee: Kim Dae-yong (South Korea)
Thailand 2–2 Iraq
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 43,572
Referee: Masaaki Toma (Japan)

Vietnam 1–1 Iraq
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Vietnam 0–3 Thailand
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Thailand 4–2 Chinese Taipei
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)

Chinese Taipei 0–2 Iraq
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 11,960
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)

Vietnam 4–1 Chinese Taipei
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Iraq 2–2 Thailand
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Iraq 1–0 Vietnam
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,160

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 8 8 0 0 27 0 +27 24 Third round and Asian Cup 1–0 3–0[lower-alpha 1] 4–0 8–0
2  Lebanon 8 3 2 3 12 6 +6 11 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 0–1 1–1 7–0
3  Kuwait 8 3 1 4 12 10 +2 10 Disqualified[lower-alpha 1] 0–1 0–0 9–0 0–3[lower-alpha 1]
4  Myanmar 8 2 2 4 9 21 12 8 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–2 0–2 3–0[lower-alpha 1] 3–1
5  Laos 8 1 1 6 6 29 23 4 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round 0–5 0–2 0–2 2–2
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. During this stage the Kuwait Football Association was suspended after the country had failed to comply with a decision from FIFA that its sports law had to be changed. The three remaining matches involving Kuwait – away v Myanmar, home v Laos, and away v South Korea – were not played as scheduled, and were eventually awarded as 3–0 wins for Kuwait's opponents. Kuwait was also unable to compete in the Third Round of the Asian Cup qualifying, to which it would have advanced based on its ranking.
Laos 2–2 Myanmar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Tan Hai (China)
Lebanon 0–1 Kuwait
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Myanmar 0–2 South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Laos 0–2 Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Yu Ming-hsun (Chinese Taipei)

South Korea 8–0 Laos
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 30,205
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
Kuwait 9–0 Myanmar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 550
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)

Laos 0–2 Kuwait
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Lebanon 0–3 South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)

Myanmar 0–2 Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Kuwait 0–1 South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Myanmar 3–1 Laos
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 6,500
Referee: Salah Abbas Alabbasi (Bahrain)
Kuwait 0–0 Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

South Korea 4–0 Myanmar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 24,270
Lebanon 7–0 Laos
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Laos 0–5 South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

South Korea 1–0 Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 30,532
Referee: Ma Ning (China)

Lebanon 1–1 Myanmar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Group H

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Uzbekistan 8 7 0 1 20 7 +13 21 Third round and Asian Cup 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–0
2  North Korea 8 5 1 2 14 8 +6 16 Asian Cup qualifying third round 4–2 0–0 2–0 1–0
3  Philippines 8 3 1 4 8 12 4 10 1–5 3–2 2–1 0–1
4  Bahrain 8 3 0 5 10 10 0 9 0–4 0–1 2–0 3–0
5  Yemen 8 1 0 7 2 17 15 3 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round 1–3 0–3[lower-alpha 1] 0–2 0–4
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. FIFA awarded North Korea a 3–0 win as a result of Yemen fielding the ineligible player Mudir Al-Radaei, after North Korea had defeated Yemen 1–0. Al-Radaei failed to serve an automatic one match suspension for receiving two yellow cards earlier in the First Round of the competition.[34]
Philippines 2–1 Bahrain
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Yemen 0–3
Awarded[note 20]
 North Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

North Korea 4–2 Uzbekistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Yemen 0–2 Philippines
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 5,200
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)

Uzbekistan 1–0 Yemen
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Lee Min-hu (South Korea)
Bahrain 0–1 North Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 9,500
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)

Philippines 1–5 Uzbekistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Yemen 0–4 Bahrain
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

North Korea 0–0 Philippines
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 41,000
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Bahrain 0–4 Uzbekistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

North Korea 1–0 Yemen
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Bahrain 2–0 Philippines
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Philippines 0–1 Yemen
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Uzbekistan 3–1 North Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

North Korea 2–0 Bahrain
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari (Singapore)
Yemen 1–3 Uzbekistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Uzbekistan 1–0 Philippines
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 34,000
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Bahrain 3–0 Yemen
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

Philippines 3–2 North Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

Ranking of runner-up teams

To determine the four best runner-up teams, the following criteria were used:

  1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss)
  2. Goal difference
  3. Goals scored
  4. Fair play points
  5. Drawing of lots

As a result of Indonesia being disqualified by FIFA suspension, Group F contained only four teams compared to five teams in all other groups. Therefore, the results against the fifth-placed team were not counted when determining the ranking of the runner-up teams.[36]

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 F  Iraq 6 3 3 0 13 6 +7 12 Third round and Asian Cup
2 E  Syria 6 4 0 2 14 11 +3 12
3 A  United Arab Emirates 6 3 2 1 16 4 +12 11
4 C  China PR 6 3 2 1 9 1 +8 11
5 H  North Korea 6 3 1 2 10 8 +2 10 Asian Cup qualifying third round
6 B  Jordan 6 3 1 2 9 7 +2 10
7 D  Oman 6 2 2 2 6 6 0 8
8 G  Lebanon 6 1 2 3 3 6 3 5
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Counting only matches against teams ranked first to fourth in the group, 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Fair play points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Ranking of fourth-placed teams

To determine the four best fourth-placed teams, the following criteria were used:

  1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss)
  2. Goal difference
  3. Goals scored
  4. Fair play points
  5. Drawing of lots

As a result of Indonesia being disqualified by FIFA suspension, Group F contains only four teams compared to five teams in all other groups. Therefore, the results against the fifth-placed team are not counted when determining the ranking of the fourth-placed teams.[36]

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D  Guam 6 1 1 4 1 14 13 4 Asian Cup qualifying third round
2 G  Myanmar 6 1 1 4 4 18 14 4
3 H  Bahrain 6 1 0 5 3 10 7 3
4 E  Afghanistan 6 1 0 5 4 24 20 3
5 B  Tajikistan 6 0 1 5 3 19 16 1 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round
6 F  Chinese Taipei 6 0 0 6 5 19 14 0
7 C  Maldives 6 0 0 6 0 15 15 0
8 A  Malaysia 6 0 0 6 1 29 28 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Counting only matches against teams ranked first to fourth in the group, 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Fair play points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Goalscorers

There were 507 goals scored in 152 matches, for an average of 3.34 goals per match.

14 goals
11 goals
8 goals
7 goals
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

Notes

  1. The fixtures between Saudi Arabia and Palestine were switched after Saudi Arabia cited "exceptional conditions" for their inability to travel to the West Bank.[11] The return fixture, originally to be played on 13 October 2015 at the Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram, was later postponed by Saudi Arabia's refusal to pass through Israeli-controlled borders,[12] until the process of agreeing on the venue was concluded.[13] The match was rescheduled to be played on 5 November 2015 in Palestine, after the Palestinian Football Association gave full security guarantees for the match.[14] The match was later further delayed until 9 November, and to be changed to a neutral venue in Asia, as the Palestinian government confirmed that it could no longer guarantee the safety and security for the match.[15] The neutral venue was announced to be Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan.[16]
  2. Timor-Leste played their home match against the United Arab Emirates in Malaysia for the lack of a suitable venue in Dili.[17]
  3. The match between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia was abandoned with only three minutes left after a group of supporters threw objects onto the pitch. At the time of the abandonment the score was 2–1 to Saudi Arabia. A month later, FIFA declared that Malaysia were going to forfeit and award the match 3–0 to Saudi Arabia. Malaysia also had to play their next home match against the United Arab Emirates behind closed doors.[18][19]
  4. The home matches of Palestine against Saudi Arabia and Malaysia were played on neutral ground as the Palestinian government confirmed that it could no longer guarantee the safety and security for the matches.[15] The neutral venue was announced to be Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan.[16]
  5. Maldives played their home match against China PR in China because of the poor condition of the National Football Stadium.[20]
  6. FIFA awarded Iran a 3–0 win as a result of India fielding the ineligible player Eugeneson Lyngdoh.[21] The match initially ended 3–0 to Iran.
  7. Afghanistan played their home matches in Iran because of security concerns from the War in Afghanistan.[22]
  8. The fixtures between Japan and Singapore were switched because the Singapore National Stadium was booked on 16 June 2015 to host the closing ceremony of the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.[23]
  9. Syria played their home matches in Oman because of security concerns from the Syrian Civil War.[24]
  10. The Thailand v Vietnam match was brought forward from 11 June 2015, as it interfered with commitments for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.[27]
  11. Iraq played their home matches in Iran because of security concerns from the Iraqi Civil War.[22]
  12. Myanmar played their home matches in Thailand due to a sanction after a crowd incident during a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Oman. The sanction had originally banned the team from entering the competition, but the Myanmar FA filed an appeal to FIFA which was partially upheld.[28]
  13. Kuwait played their home match against Myanmar in Qatar for unspecified reasons.[29]
  14. The Myanmar v Kuwait match, originally to be played on 17 November 2015, 19:00 UTC+7, at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, was not played as scheduled because of the suspension of the Kuwait Football Association by FIFA.[30]
  15. On 13 January 2016, FIFA decided that the match scheduled for 17 November 2015 should be forfeited by Kuwait (and awarded as a 3–0 win for Myanmar) as it did not take place because of the suspension of the Kuwait Football Association.[31][32]
  16. The Kuwait v Laos match, originally to be played on 24 March 2016, 18:35 UTC+3, at the Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City, was not played as scheduled because of the suspension of the Kuwait Football Association by FIFA.[30]
  17. On 6 April 2016, FIFA decided that the match scheduled for 24 March 2016 should be forfeited by Kuwait (and awarded as a 3–0 win for Laos) as it did not take place because of the suspension of the Kuwait Football Association.[32][33]
  18. The South Korea v Kuwait match, originally to be played on 29 March 2016, 20:00 UTC+9, at the Daegu World Cup Stadium, Daegu, was not played as scheduled because of the suspension of the Kuwait Football Association by FIFA.[30]
  19. On 6 April 2016, FIFA decided that the match scheduled for 29 March 2016 should be forfeited by Kuwait (and awarded as a 3–0 win for South Korea) as it did not take place because of the suspension of the Kuwait Football Association.[32][33]
  20. FIFA awarded North Korea a 3–0 win as a result of Yemen fielding the ineligible player Mudir Al-Radaei, after North Korea had defeated Yemen by 1–0. Al-Radaei failed to serve an automatic one match suspension for receiving two yellow cards earlier in the First Round of the competition.[34]
  21. Yemen played their home matches in Qatar because of security concerns from the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.[35]
  22. This player's goal tally includes one or more goals which the player scored in matches that were subsequently forfeited, but which FIFA continues to count in its statistics.

References

  1. "ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals". AFC. 16 April 2014.
  2. "Draw date set for Round 2 of 2018 World Cup, 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers". AFC. 26 March 2015.
  3. "Draw: Russia 2018 / UAE 2019 Joint Qualification Round 2". AFC. 15 April 2015.
  4. "FIFA Men's Ranking – April 2015 (AFC)". FIFA.com. 8 January 2015.
  5. "Draw for Russia 2018, UAE 2019 Round 2 qualifiers looms large". AFC. 13 April 2015.
  6. "Regulations – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia" (PDF). FIFA.com.
  7. Rashvinjeet S. Bedi; T. Avineshwaran (8 September 2015). "Malaysia-Saudi match abandoned after crowd trouble". The Star. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  8. "Malaysian FA sanctioned after abandonment of FIFA World Cup qualifier". FIFA.com. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  9. "Latest decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee". FIFA.com. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  10. "Federacao Futebol Timor-Leste expelled from AFC Asian Cup 2023". The-AFC.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  11. "Palestine and Saudi Arabia agree to swap venues for World Cup qualifier". The National (UAE). 8 June 2015.
  12. "World Cup 2018: Palestinians and Saudi Arabia at loggerheads over key game". CNN. 29 September 2015.
  13. "FIFA statement on the Palestine-Saudi Arabia 2018 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier". FIFA.com. 7 October 2015.
  14. "Palestine vs Saudi Arabia 2018 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier to be played on 5 November". FIFA.com. 21 October 2015.
  15. "Palestine to play Saudi Arabia and Malaysia on neutral ground". FIFA.com. 4 November 2015.
  16. "Amman the venue for Palestine qualifiers". FIFA.com. 5 November 2015.
  17. "S. Korea to travel to Southeast Asia for friendly, World Cup qualifier". Yonhap News Agency. 26 May 2015.
  18. "VIDEO: Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia halted indefinitely as crowd gets hostile". Fourth Official. 8 September 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  19. "Malaysian FA sanctioned after abandonment of FIFA World Cup qualifier". FIFA.com. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  20. "足协公布FIFA确认函 敲定国足客战马代易地沈阳" [FIFA confirmed that the Maldives vs. China match would be played in Shenyang, China] (in Chinese). Sohu. 20 August 2015.
  21. "DISCIPLINARY OVERVIEW – 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA™ QUALIFIERS" (PDF). FIFA. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2016.
  22. "Crisis-Hit Countries Can Play World Cup Qualifiers in Iran". persianfootball.com. 29 April 2015.
  23. "Japan, Singapore approve swapping venues for World Cup qualifiers". The Japan Times. 24 April 2015.
  24. "Neutral venues set for Japan matches". The Japan News. 26 May 2015.
  25. "Current allocation of FIFA World Cup™ confederation slots maintained". FIFA.com. 30 May 2015.
  26. "Impact of Football Association of Indonesia suspension". AFC. 3 June 2015.
  27. "FIFA reschedules Vietnam, Thailand match". Dantri International. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  28. "Myanmar appeal partially upheld". FIFA. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  29. "Qatar agrees to host joint Asian, World Cup qualifiers". Kuwait Times. 22 August 2015.
  30. "فيفا يؤكد عدم اقامة مباراة مينمار" (in Arabic). Kuwait Football Association. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  31. "Kuwait sanctioned after unplayed FIFA World Cup™ qualifier". FIFA. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  32. "FIFA sanctions several football associations after discriminatory chants by fans" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  33. "Kuwait's matches against Laos and Korea Republic forfeited". FIFA. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  34. "Yemen sanctioned for fielding ineligible player". FIFA. 6 July 2015.
  35. "Yemen football team flees war by boat to make World Cup 2018 qualifier with North Korea". ibtimes.co.uk. 4 June 2015.
  36. "Criteria to Determine the Rankings of Best-placed Teams among the Groups" (PDF). AFC.
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