2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Second Round

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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]

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Second Round
Tournament details
Dates24 May 2015 – 29 March 2016
Teams40 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played152
Goals scored507 (3.34 per match)
Attendance2,293,258 (15,087 per match)
Top scorer(s)Saudi Arabia Mohammad Al-Sahlawi
(14 goals)[note 1]
← 2014 (World Cup)
←2015 (Asian Cup)
2022 →

Format[]

A total of forty 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.

A total of 24 teams eliminated from World Cup qualification in the second round competed in the third round of 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification (which was separated from the third round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification), where they were divided into six groups of four teams and competed for the remaining slots of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. The 24 teams consisted of the sixteen highest ranked teams eliminated in the second round, and the eight teams that advanced from the play-off round of 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification which were contested by the remaining twelve teams eliminated in the second round.[2]

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.[3][4]

The seeding was based on the FIFA World Rankings of April 2015 (shown in parentheses below).[5] The 40 teams were seeded into five pots:[6]

  • 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[]

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tiebreakers
In league format, the ranking of teams in each group was based on the following criteria (regulations Articles 20.6 and 20.7):[7]
  1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss)
  2. Overall goal difference
  3. Overall goals scored
  4. Points in matches between tied teams
  5. Goal difference in matches between tied teams
  6. Goals scored in matches between tied teams
  7. Away goals scored in matches between tied teams (if the tie was only between two teams in home-and-away league format)
  8. Fair play points
    • first yellow card: minus 1 point
    • indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points
    • direct red card: minus 4 points
    • yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points
  9. Drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee

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[a]
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[b] 1–2 0–6 — 3–0[a]
5  Timor-Leste[a] 8 0 0 8 0 44 −44 0 0–10 0–3[a] 0–3[a] 0–3[a] —
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c d e f Timor-Leste forfeited five group matches due to fielding numerous ineligible players.[8] The original results were: Malaysia 1–1 Timor-Leste; Timor-Leste 0–1 United Arab Emirates; Saudi Arabia 7–0 Timor-Leste; Timor-Leste 1–1 Palestine; Timor-Leste 0–1 Malaysia.
  2. ^ The Malaysia v Saudi Arabia match was awarded as 0–3, after being abandoned at 1–2 after a group of supporters threw objects onto the pitch.[9][10]
Malaysia 3–0
Forfeited[note 2]		 Timor-Leste
  • Safee Goal 34'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia)
Saudi Arabia 3–2 Palestine
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Tamburrini Goal 51'
  • Jadue Goal 90+1'
Attendance: 4,820
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
Timor-Leste 0–3
Forfeited[note 2]		 United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • O. Abdulrahman Goal 80'
Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam (Malaysia)[note 4]
Attendance: 200
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Malaysia 0–6 Palestine
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Al-Battat Goal 9'
  • Maraaba Goal 22', 75'
  • Seyam Goal 41', 86'
  • Yousef Goal 63'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Kim Sang-woo (South Korea)
United Arab Emirates 10–0 Malaysia
  • Salem Goal 16'
  • Mabkhout Goal 22', 33', 76'
  • Khalil Goal 24', 29', 70', 78'
  • Fardan Goal 25'
  • Ahmed Goal 37'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 7,822
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
Saudi Arabia 7–0
Forfeited[note 2]		 Timor-Leste
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Timur Faizullin (Kyrgyzstan)
Malaysia 0–3
Awarded[note 5]		 Saudi Arabia
  • Safiq Goal 70'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Liu Kwok Man (Hong Kong)
Palestine 0–0 United Arab Emirates
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram
Attendance: 15,000
Timor-Leste 0–3
Forfeited[note 2]		 Palestine
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Dili Municipal Stadium, Dili
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Kim Dong-jin (South Korea)
Saudi Arabia 2–1 United Arab Emirates
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Khalil Goal 18'
King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Attendance: 32,482
Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (Singapore)
Timor-Leste 0–3
Forfeited[note 2]		 Malaysia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Amri Goal 10'
Dili Municipal Stadium, Dili
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)
Palestine 0–0 Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Amman International Stadium, Amman (Jordan)[note 6]
Attendance: 10,000
Palestine 6–0 Malaysia
  • Cantillana Goal 37'
  • Abu Nahyeh Goal 38', 45', 58'
  • Seyam Goal 88'
  • Ihbeisheh Goal 90+1'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Amman International Stadium, Amman (Jordan)[note 6]
Attendance: 9,772
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
United Arab Emirates 8–0 Timor-Leste
  • Mabkhout Goal 15', 19'
  • Khalil Goal 43', 53' (pen.), 56', 57'
  • Ali Goal 54'
  • Al Hashmi Goal 87'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 7,870
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Timor-Leste 0–10 Saudi Arabia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Dili Municipal Stadium, Dili
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Alan Milliner (Australia)
Malaysia 1–2 United Arab Emirates
  • Baddrol Goal 59'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • O. Abdulrahman Goal 22'
  • Khalil Goal 52'
Attendance: 100[note 5]
Referee: Masaaki Toma (Japan)
United Arab Emirates 2–0 Palestine
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 15,822
Referee: Ben Williams (Australia)
Saudi Arabia 2–0 Malaysia
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Attendance: 34,839
Referee: Kim Dong-jin (South Korea)
Palestine 7–0 Timor-Leste
  • Ihbeisheh Goal 2'
  • Cantillana Goal 18', 66'
  • Pinto Goal 32', 39'
  • Awad Goal 77'
  • Bahdari Goal 90'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Dora International Stadium, Hebron
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
United Arab Emirates 1–1 Saudi Arabia
  • O. Abdulrahman Goal 52'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 32,325
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)

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
  • Kichin Goal 32' (o.g.)
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Zemlianukhin Goal 9', 41'
  • Bernhardt Goal 29' (pen.)
Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: (Singapore)
Tajikistan 1–3 Jordan
  • M. Dzhalilov Goal 66'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Abdel-Fattah Goal 29', 63', 88'
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Bangladesh 1–1 Tajikistan
  • Hasan Goal 50'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Fatkhuloev Goal 88'
Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Lee Min-hu (South Korea)
Kyrgyzstan 1–2 Australia
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Jedinak Goal 2'
  • Oar Goal 68'
Spartak Stadium, Bishkek
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
Australia 5–0 Bangladesh
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Perth Oval, Perth
Attendance: 19,495
Referee: Võ Minh Trí (Vietnam)
Jordan 0–0 Kyrgyzstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 5,012
Referee: Mohd Amirul Izwan Yaacob (Malaysia)
Bangladesh 0–4 Jordan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Deeb Goal 13' (pen.), 56'
  • Abu Amarah Goal 33'
  • Al-Bakhit Goal 58'
Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: (Chinese Taipei)
Tajikistan 0–3 Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Milligan Goal 57'
  • Cahill Goal 73', 90+1'
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: (Bahrain)
Jordan 2–0 Australia
  • Abdel-Fattah Goal 47' (pen.)
  • Al-Dardour Goal 84'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 11,462
Referee: Masaaki Toma (Japan)
Kyrgyzstan 2–2 Tajikistan
  • Duyshobekov Goal 7'
  • Zemlianukhin Goal 90+4' (pen.)
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • M. Dzhalilov Goal 65'
  • Nazarov Goal 71' (pen.)
Spartak Stadium, Bishkek
Attendance: 17,600
Referee: Mooud Bonyadifard (Iran)
Kyrgyzstan 2–0 Bangladesh
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Spartak Stadium, Bishkek
Attendance: 12,001
Referee: (Bahrain)
Jordan 3–0 Tajikistan
  • Al-Dardour Goal 65', 90+4'
  • Abdel-Fattah Goal 67'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Abdullah Al Hilali (Oman)
Australia 3–0 Kyrgyzstan
  • Jedinak Goal 40' (pen.)
  • Cahill Goal 50'
  • Amirov Goal 69' (o.g.)
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Attendance: 19,412
Referee: Kim Sang-woo (South Korea)
Tajikistan 5–0 Bangladesh
  • M. Dzhalilov Goal 16', 26', 59', 74'
  • Nazarov Goal 51' (pen.)
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 5,500
Bangladesh 0–4 Australia
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Cahill Goal 6', 32', 37'
  • Jedinak Goal 43'
Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka
Attendance: 19,730
Referee: Wang Di (China)
Kyrgyzstan 1–0 Jordan
  • Zemlianukhin Goal 48'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Spartak Stadium, Bishkek
Attendance: 14,000
Australia 7–0 Tajikistan
  • Luongo Goal 3'
  • Jedinak Goal 13' (pen.)
  • Milligan Goal 57' (pen.)
  • Burns Goal 67', 87'
  • Rogic Goal 70', 72'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Attendance: 35,439
Referee: Fahad Al-Marri (Qatar)
Jordan 8–0 Bangladesh
  • Al-Dardour Goal 7', 23', 40'
  • Deeb Goal 29' (pen.)
  • Al-Rawashdeh Goal 32'
  • Faisal Goal 63'
  • Al-Naber Goal 82'
  • Samir Goal 90+2' (pen.)
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (Singapore)
Australia 5–1 Jordan
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Deeb Goal 90'
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 24,975
Referee: Kim Jong-hyeok (South Korea)
Tajikistan 0–1 Kyrgyzstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Lux Goal 18'
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: (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
  • McKee Goal 19', 57'
  • Christian Goal 23'
  • Lo Kwan Yee Goal 30'
  • Ju Yingzhi Goal 42'
  • Lam Ka Wai Goal 49' (pen.)
  • Godfred Goal 67'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 6,326
Maldives 0–1 Qatar
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Abdul Maqsoud Goal 90+8'
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Yudai Yamamoto (Japan)
Bhutan 0–6 China PR
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Yang Xu Goal 45+2', 60', 76'
  • Wu Lei Goal 55'
  • Yu Dabao Goal 67', 83'
Attendance: 10,000
Hong Kong 2–0 Maldives
  • Xu Deshuai Goal 63'
  • Lam Ka Wai Goal 67'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 6,370
China PR 0–0 Hong Kong
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 26,173
Referee: Strebre Delovski (Australia)
Qatar 15–0 Bhutan
  • Musa Goal 8', 28'
  • Kasola Goal 18'
  • Assadalla Goal 21', 45', 63'
  • Al-Haydos Goal 25', 87'
  • Muntari Goal 37', 41', 48'
  • Afif Goal 57'
  • Khoukhi Goal 62', 70'
  • Mohammad Goal 75'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 2,022
Maldives 0–3 China PR
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Yu Dabao Goal 8', 57'
  • Zhang Linpeng Goal 66'
Attendance: 28,036
Referee: (Singapore)
Hong Kong 2–3 Qatar
  • Bai He Goal 87'
  • Godfred Goal 89'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Boudiaf Goal 22'
  • Hassan Goal 62'
  • Musa Goal 84'
Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 6,396
Referee: Kim Sang-woo (South Korea)
Bhutan 3–4 Maldives
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Nashid Goal 11'
  • Ashfaq Goal 23', 33', 57' (pen.)
Attendance: 7,000
Qatar 1–0 China PR
  • Boudiaf Goal 22'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 7,730
Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)
Bhutan 0–1 Hong Kong
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Chan Siu Ki Goal 89'
Attendance: 7,280
Referee: (Uzbekistan)
Qatar 4–0 Maldives
  • Khoukhi Goal 28', 70'
  • Kasola Goal 69'
  • Musa Goal 90+2'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 4,006
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Maldives 0–1 Hong Kong
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Ammar Al-Jeneibi (United Arab Emirates)
China PR 12–0 Bhutan
  • Mei Fang Goal 10'
  • Yang Xu Goal 13', 21' (pen.), 37', 52'
  • Yu Dabao Goal 16', 39'
  • Yu Hanchao Goal 34', 72'
  • Wang Yongpo Goal 66', 81'
  • Zhang Xizhe Goal 88'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Helong Stadium, Changsha
Attendance: 27,358
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)
Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 6,071
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)
China PR 4–0 Maldives
  • Jiang Ning Goal 2', 84', 90+1'
  • Yang Xu Goal 12'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, Wuhan
Attendance: 32,618
Qatar 2–0 Hong Kong
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 10,170
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)
China PR 2–0 Qatar
  • Huang Bowen Goal 57'
  • Wu Lei Goal 88'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Shaanxi Province Stadium, Xi'an
Attendance: 46,718
Referee: Mohd Amirul Izwan Yaacob (Malaysia)
Maldives 4–2 Bhutan
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 4,102
Referee: Kim Sang-woo (South Korea)

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[a] 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.[22] The match initially ended 3–0 to Iran.
Guam 1–0 Turkmenistan
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Guam F.A. National Training Center, Dededo
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Wang Di (China)
India 1–2 Oman
  • Chhetri Goal 26'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 19,312
Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)
Guam 2–1 India
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Chhetri Goal 90+3'
Guam F.A. National Training Center, Dededo
Attendance: 3,277
Referee: Võ Minh Trí (Vietnam)
Turkmenistan 1–1 Iran
  • Mingazow Goal 45+1'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Azmoun Goal 4'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: (Bahrain)
Iran 6–0 Guam
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 11,232
Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
Oman 3–1 Turkmenistan
  • Saleh Goal 7'
  • Saparow Goal 11' (o.g.)
  • Al-Hosni Goal 59'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Amanow Goal 82'
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (Singapore)
Guam 0–0 Oman
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Guam F.A. National Training Center, Dededo
Attendance: 2,239
Referee: (Japan)
India 0–3
Awarded[note 8]		 Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Azmoun Goal 28'
  • Teymourian Goal 46'
  • Taremi Goal 49'
Attendance: 14,500
Referee: Ammar Al-Jeneibi (United Arab Emirates)
Turkmenistan 2–1 India
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 20,100
Referee: (Syria)
Oman 1–1 Iran
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Hosseini Goal 70'
Attendance: 12,400
Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (Uzbekistan)
Turkmenistan 1–0 Guam
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 20,200
Referee: Turki Al-Khudhayr (Saudi Arabia)
Oman 3–0 India
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Fahad Al-Marri (Qatar)
Iran 3–1 Turkmenistan
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Saparow Goal 62'
Attendance: 35,800
Referee: Kim Dong-jin (South Korea)
India 1–0 Guam
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 6,277
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia)
Guam 0–6 Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Taremi Goal 12', 63'
  • Kamyabinia Goal 32'
  • Rezaeian Goal 49'
  • Shojaei Goal 52' (pen.)
  • Ansarifard Goal 53'
Guam F.A. National Training Center, Dededo
Attendance: 2,087
Referee: (Hong Kong)
Turkmenistan 2–1 Oman
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 23,100
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Iran 4–0 India
  • Hajsafi Goal 33' (pen.), 66' (pen.)
  • Azmoun Goal 61'
  • Jahanbakhsh Goal 78'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 29,160
Referee: Võ Minh Trí (Vietnam)
Oman 1–0 Guam
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: (Bahrain)
India 1–2 Turkmenistan
  • Jhingan Goal 26'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 3,111
Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
Iran 2–0 Oman
  • Azmoun Goal 16', 23'
 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)
  • Khairul Goal 9'
  • Safuwan Goal 21', 35'
  • Fazrul Goal 55'
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Attendance: 63,000
Referee: Liu Kwok Man (Hong Kong)
Afghanistan 0–6 Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Rafe Goal 19', 35'
  • Ajan Goal 42'
  • Al Hussain Goal 70'
  • Malki Goal 75'
  • Kharbin Goal 90+4' (pen.)
Samen Stadium, Mashhad (Iran)[note 9]
Attendance: 7,647
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Japan 0–0 Singapore
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
Attendance: 57,533
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)
Cambodia 0–1 Afghanistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Zazai Goal 86'
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Attendance: 55,000
Japan 3–0 Cambodia
  • Honda Goal 28'
  • Yoshida Goal 50'
  • Kagawa Goal 61'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
Attendance: 54,716
Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)
Syria 1–0 Singapore
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 100
Referee: (Kuwait)
Cambodia 0–6 Syria
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Kharbin Goal 29', 39'
  • Malki Goal 31'
  • Al-Mawas Goal 44'
  • Midani Goal 50'
  • Omari Goal 81'
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Wang Di (China)
Afghanistan 0–6 Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Kagawa Goal 10', 50'
  • Morishige Goal 35'
  • Okazaki Goal 57', 60'
  • Honda Goal 74'
Azadi Stadium, Tehran (Iran)[note 9]
Attendance: 8,650
Referee: (Qatar)
Singapore 1–0 Afghanistan
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
National Stadium, Singapore
Attendance: 5,400
Referee: (Hong Kong)
Syria 0–3 Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Honda Goal 55' (pen.)
  • Okazaki Goal 70'
  • Usami Goal 88'
Attendance: 680
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Singapore 2–1 Cambodia
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Suhana Goal 65'
National Stadium, Singapore
Attendance: 6,650
Referee: (South Korea)
Syria 5–2 Afghanistan
  • Omari Goal 9', 21', 83'
  • Al-Mawas Goal 32', 90'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Amiri Goal 44'
  • Shayesteh Goal 78'
Attendance: 200
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)
Singapore 0–3 Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Kanazaki Goal 20'
  • Honda Goal 26'
  • Yoshida Goal 88'
National Stadium, Singapore
Attendance: 33,868
Afghanistan 3–0 Cambodia
  • Zazai Goal 42'
  • Amiri Goal 78'
  • Amani Goal 90+4'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Takhti Stadium, Tehran (Iran)[note 9]
Attendance: 2,585
Singapore 1–2 Syria
  • Safuwan Goal 89' (pen.)
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Kharbin Goal 20', 90+3'
National Stadium, Singapore
Attendance: 7,468
Referee: Kim Jong-hyeok (South Korea)
Cambodia 0–2 Japan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Attendance: 29,871
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Japan 5–0 Afghanistan
  • Okazaki Goal 43'
  • Kiyotake Goal 58'
  • Mukhammad Goal 63' (o.g.)
  • Yoshida Goal 74'
  • Kanazaki Goal 78'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
Attendance: 48,967
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)
Syria 6–0 Cambodia
  • Kharbin Goal 7', 19'
  • Kallasi Goal 57'
  • Makara Goal 70' (o.g.)
  • Al Hussain Goal 80'
  • Malki Goal 84'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 100
Referee: Chris Beath (Australia)
Afghanistan 2–1 Singapore
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Fazrul Goal 89'
Takhti Stadium, Tehran (Iran)[note 9]
Attendance: 24,500
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Japan 5–0 Syria
  • Al Masri Goal 17' (o.g.)
  • Kagawa Goal 66', 90'
  • Honda Goal 86'
  • Haraguchi Goal 90+3'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
Attendance: 57,475
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)

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,[26] and on 3 June 2015 the team was disqualified and all matches involving it were cancelled.[27]

Thailand 1–0 Vietnam
  • Pokklaw Goal 80'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 40,500
Referee: Ben Williams (Australia)
Chinese Taipei 0–2 Thailand
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Teerasil Goal 21', 39'
Attendance: 18,168
Referee: (Kuwait)
Iraq 5–1 Chinese Taipei
  • Adnan Goal 37'
  • Hosni Goal 59'
  • Yasin Goal 80'
  • Mahmoud Goal 88'
  • Meram Goal 90+1' (pen.)
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Wen Chih-hao Goal 86'
PAS Stadium, Tehran (Iran)[note 13]
Attendance: 4,200
Referee: Yaqoob Abdul Baki (Oman)
Chinese Taipei 1–2 Vietnam
  • Wu Chun-ching Goal 82'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 20,239
Referee: (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)
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Chris Beath (Australia)
Vietnam 0–3 Thailand
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)
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)
National Stadium, Kaohsiung
Attendance: 11,960
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
Vietnam 4–1 Chinese Taipei
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Wu Chun-ching Goal 7'
Attendance: 18,350
Iraq 2–2 Thailand
  • Kamel Goal 66'
  • Adnan Goal 90+5'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
PAS Stadium, Tehran (Iran)[note 13]
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
Iraq 1–0 Vietnam
  • Abdul-Raheem Goal 45+1'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
PAS Stadium, Tehran (Iran)[note 13]
Attendance: 2,160
Referee: Peter Green (Australia)

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[a] 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[a] 0–1 0–0 — 9–0 0–3[a]
4  Myanmar 8 2 2 4 9 21 −12 8 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–2 0–2 3–0[a] — 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. ^ a b c d 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)
  • Zaw Min Tun Goal 41'
  • Kyaw Zayar Win Goal 85'
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Tan Hai (China)
Lebanon 0–1 Kuwait
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saida International Stadium, Sidon
Attendance: 15,215
Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (Uzbekistan)
Myanmar 0–2 South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok (Thailand)[note 14]
Attendance: 1,090
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Laos 0–2 Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: (Chinese Taipei)
South Korea 8–0 Laos
  • Lee Chung-yong Goal 9'
  • Son Heung-min Goal 12', 74', 89'
  • Kwon Chang-hoon Goal 30', 75'
  • Suk Hyun-jun Goal 57'
  • Lee Jae-sung Goal 90+4'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong
Attendance: 30,205
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
Kuwait 9–0 Myanmar
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 550
Referee: (Uzbekistan)
Laos 0–2 Kuwait
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 1,300
Lebanon 0–3 South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Jang Hyun-soo Goal 22' (pen.)
  • Ali Hamam Goal 26' (o.g.)
  • Kwon Chang-hoon Goal 60'
Saida International Stadium, Sidon
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)
Myanmar 0–2 Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Maatouk Goal 28'
  • Atwi Goal 90+3'
Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok (Thailand)[note 14]
Attendance: 3,056
Referee: Mohd Nafeez Abdul Wahab (Malaysia)
Kuwait 0–1 South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Koo Ja-cheol Goal 12'
Attendance: 12,350
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)
Myanmar 3–1 Laos
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok (Thailand)[note 14]
Attendance: 6,500
Referee: Salah Abbas Alabbasi (Bahrain)
Kuwait 0–0 Lebanon
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 12,150
Referee: Ammar Al-Jeneibi (United Arab Emirates)
South Korea 4–0 Myanmar
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 24,270
Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
Lebanon 7–0 Laos
  • Mohamad Goal 27'
  • Antar Goal 34'
  • Chaito Goal 36', 90+3'
  • Hamam Goal 42'
  • Maatouk Goal 59'
  • Oumari Goal 90'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Saida International Stadium, Sidon
Attendance: 2,000
Laos 0–5 South Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Ki Sung-yueng Goal 3' (pen.), 33'
  • Son Heung-min Goal 35', 67'
  • Suk Hyun-jun Goal 43'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Turki Al-Khudhayr (Saudi Arabia)
Myanmar 3–0
Awarded[note 17]		 Kuwait
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
South Korea 1–0 Lebanon
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 30,532
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Kuwait 0–3
Awarded[note 19]		 Laos
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Lebanon 1–1 Myanmar
  • El-Helwe Goal 88'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Aung Thu Goal 73'
Saida International Stadium, Sidon
Attendance: 3,470
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
South Korea 3–0
Awarded[note 21]		 Kuwait
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[a] 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.[35]
Philippines 2–1 Bahrain
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Al-Malood Goal 90+3'
Philippine Sports Stadium, Bocaue
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
Yemen 0–3
Awarded[note 22]		 North Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (Qatar)[note 23]
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
North Korea 4–2 Uzbekistan
  • Pak Kwang-ryong Goal 4'
  • Jang Kuk-chol Goal 16'
  • Ro Hak-su Goal 34'
  • Ri Hyok-chol Goal 36'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Mohd Amirul Izwan Yaacob (Malaysia)
Yemen 0–2 Philippines
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (Qatar)[note 23]
Attendance: 5,200
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)
Uzbekistan 1–0 Yemen
  • Geynrikh Goal 51'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Lee Min-hu (South Korea)
Bahrain 0–1 North Korea
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Jong Il-gwan Goal 42'
Attendance: 9,500
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Philippines 1–5 Uzbekistan
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Philippine Sports Stadium, Bocaue
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Peter Green (Australia)
Yemen 0–4 Bahrain
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Ali Baba Goal 31' (pen.)
  • Al-Husaini Goal 45+1'
  • Omar Goal 66'
  • Adnan Goal 77'
Attendance: 421
Referee: Turki Al-Khudhayr (Saudi Arabia)
North Korea 0–0 Philippines
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 41,000
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Bahrain 0–4 Uzbekistan
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)
North Korea 1–0 Yemen
  • Jong Il-gwan Goal 12' (pen.)
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 41,000
Referee: Liu Kwok Man (Hong Kong)
Bahrain 2–0 Philippines
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 3,050
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)
Philippines 0–1 Yemen
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila
Attendance: 6,478
Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)
Uzbekistan 3–1 North Korea
  • Sergeev Goal 23'
  • Geynrikh Goal 65'
  • Ahmedov Goal 87'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 27,135
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)
North Korea 2–0 Bahrain
  • Pak Kwang-ryong Goal 45+1' (pen.)
  • Jong Il-gwan Goal 90+3'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari (Singapore)
Yemen 1–3 Uzbekistan
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
  • Haydarov Goal 7'
  • Djeparov Goal 31'
  • Andreev Goal 50'
Attendance: 350
Referee: Abdullah Al Hilali (Oman)
Uzbekistan 1–0 Philippines
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 34,000
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Bahrain 3–0 Yemen
  • Abdulatif Goal 32' (pen.)
  • Al-Malood Goal 63'
  • Al Romaihi Goal 90+2'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Philippines 3–2 North Korea
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila
Attendance: 7,350
Uzbekistan 1–0 Bahrain
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 34,000
Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)

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.[38]

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 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 fourth-placed teams.[38]

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
  • United Arab Emirates Ahmed Khalil
8 goals
  • Australia Tim Cahill
  • China Yang Xu
7 goals
6 goals
  • China Yu Dabao
  • Japan Keisuke Honda
  • Jordan Hamza Al-Dardour
  • South Korea Son Heung-min
  • Tajikistan Manuchekhr Dzhalilov
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p This player's goal tally included one or more goals which the player scored in matches that were subsequently forfeited, but which FIFA still continued to count in its statistics.
  2. ^ a b c d e Timor-Leste forfeited five group matches due to fielding numerous ineligible players.[11] The original results were: Malaysia 1–1 Timor-Leste; Timor-Leste 0–1 United Arab Emirates; Saudi Arabia 7–0 Timor-Leste; Timor-Leste 1–1 Palestine; Timor-Leste 0–1 Malaysia.
  3. ^ a b The fixtures between Saudi Arabia and Palestine were switched after Saudi Arabia cited "exceptional conditions" for their inability to travel to the West Bank.[12] 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,[13] until the process of agreeing on the venue was concluded.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16] The neutral venue was announced to be Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan.[17]
  4. ^ Timor-Leste played their home match against the United Arab Emirates in Malaysia for the lack of a suitable venue in Dili.[18]
  5. ^ a b 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.[19][20]
  6. ^ a b 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.[16] The neutral venue was announced to be Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan.[17]
  7. ^ Maldives played their home match against China PR in China because of the poor condition of the National Football Stadium.[21]
  8. ^ FIFA awarded Iran a 3–0 win as a result of India fielding the ineligible player Eugeneson Lyngdoh.[22] The match initially ended 3–0 to Iran.
  9. ^ a b c d Afghanistan played their home matches in Iran because of security concerns from the War in Afghanistan.[23]
  10. ^ a b 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.[24]
  11. ^ a b c d Syria played their home matches in Oman because of security concerns from the Syrian Civil War.[25]
  12. ^ The Thailand v Vietnam match was brought forward from 11 June 2015, as it interfered with commitments for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.[28]
  13. ^ a b c Iraq played their home matches in Iran because of security concerns from the Iraqi Civil War.[23]
  14. ^ a b c 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.[29]
  15. ^ Kuwait played their home match against Myanmar in Qatar for unspecified reasons.[30]
  16. ^ 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.[31]
  17. ^ 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.[32][33]
  18. ^ 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.[31]
  19. ^ 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.[33][34]
  20. ^ 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.[31]
  21. ^ 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.[33][34]
  22. ^ 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.[36]
  23. ^ a b c d Yemen played their home matches in Qatar because of security concerns from the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.[37]

References[]

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  2. ^ "World Cup draw looms large in Asia". FIFA.com. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Completing the tournament's qualifying contenders will be the next 16 highest ranked teams, with the remaining 12 sides battling it out in play-off matches to claim the last eight spots.
  3. ^ "Draw date set for Round 2 of 2018 World Cup, 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers". AFC. 26 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Draw: Russia 2018 / UAE 2019 Joint Qualification Round 2". AFC. 15 April 2015.
  5. ^ "FIFA Men's Ranking – April 2015 (AFC)". FIFA.com. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Draw for Russia 2018, UAE 2019 Round 2 qualifiers looms large". AFC. 13 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Regulations – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia" (PDF). FIFA.com.
  8. ^ "Federacao Futebol Timor-Leste expelled from AFC Asian Cup 2023". The-AFC.com. 20 January 2017. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  9. ^ Rashvinjeet S. Bedi; T. Avineshwaran (8 September 2015). "Malaysia-Saudi match abandoned after crowd trouble". The Star. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Malaysian FA sanctioned after abandonment of FIFA World Cup qualifier". FIFA.com. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Federacao Futebol Timor-Leste expelled from AFC Asian Cup 2023". The-AFC.com. 20 January 2017. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Palestine and Saudi Arabia agree to swap venues for World Cup qualifier". The National (UAE). 8 June 2015.
  13. ^ "World Cup 2018: Palestinians and Saudi Arabia at loggerheads over key game". CNN. 29 September 2015.
  14. ^ "FIFA statement on the Palestine-Saudi Arabia 2018 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier". FIFA.com. 7 October 2015. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Palestine vs Saudi Arabia 2018 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier to be played on 5 November". FIFA.com. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Palestine to play Saudi Arabia and Malaysia on neutral ground". FIFA.com. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Amman the venue for Palestine qualifiers". FIFA.com. 5 November 2015. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015.
  18. ^ "S. Korea to travel to Southeast Asia for friendly, World Cup qualifier". Yonhap News Agency. 26 May 2015.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "Malaysian FA sanctioned after abandonment of FIFA World Cup qualifier". FIFA.com. 5 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ a b "DISCIPLINARY OVERVIEW – 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA™ QUALIFIERS" (PDF). FIFA. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Crisis-Hit Countries Can Play World Cup Qualifiers in Iran". persianfootball.com. 29 April 2015.
  24. ^ "Japan, Singapore approve swapping venues for World Cup qualifiers". The Japan Times. 24 April 2015.
  25. ^ "Neutral venues set for Japan matches". The Japan News. 26 May 2015.
  26. ^ "Current allocation of FIFA World Cup™ confederation slots maintained". FIFA.com. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
  27. ^ "Impact of Football Association of Indonesia suspension". AFC. 3 June 2015.
  28. ^ "FIFA reschedules Vietnam, Thailand match". Dantri International. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  29. ^ "Myanmar appeal partially upheld". FIFA. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  30. ^ "Qatar agrees to host joint Asian, World Cup qualifiers". Kuwait Times. 22 August 2015.
  31. ^ a b c "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.
  32. ^ "Kuwait sanctioned after unplayed FIFA World Cup™ qualifier". FIFA. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  33. ^ a b c "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.
  34. ^ a b "Kuwait's matches against Laos and Korea Republic forfeited". FIFA. 6 April 2016. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  35. ^ "Yemen sanctioned for fielding ineligible player". FIFA. 6 July 2015.
  36. ^ "Yemen sanctioned for fielding ineligible player". FIFA. 6 July 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015.
  37. ^ "Yemen football team flees war by boat to make World Cup 2018 qualifier with North Korea". ibtimes.co.uk. 4 June 2015.
  38. ^ a b "Criteria to Determine the Rankings of Best-placed Teams among the Groups" (PDF). AFC.

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