Round Two of the AFC 2022 World Cup Qualifiers Complete

The final matchdays of Asia's second qualifying round for Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup in China have been played out. The group winners and best runners-up have been decided. Those twelve squads will advance directly to the Asian Cup tournament in two years and to the final round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers beginning in September. 

Forty-six national teams from across the Asian continent began the qualifying competition just over two years ago. The initial round and the first six matchdays were contested as planned, on schedule and without too many surprises. However, since the beginning of 2020 and the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, the tournament has been beset by delays and postponements, suffered the loss of the North Korean team to covid-restrictions, and undergone a significant format change to complete the event within the allotted (though greatly altered) time frames. However, the final match between Chinese Taipei and Kuwait on June 15th saw the first two rounds completed successfully, and the twelve victors decided. 

As hosts of the 2022 World Cup, group winner Qatar already has a place at the tournament - their qualifying win, however, takes the team directly to the Asian Cup competition. As a result, the squads from Syria, Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea (winners of their groups), China, Iraq, Oman, Vietnam and Lebanon (best runners-up), will all advance to Asia's third and final qualifying round for the World Cup. The third round will determine the four winning teams who will join Qatar in 2022 and one team who will head to the inter-confederation playoffs in June for one last chance at qualifying.

As hosts of the Asian Cup, best runner-up China also takes an automatic place at their 2023 tournament. As group winners and best runners-up, Qatar, Syria, Australia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, China, Iraq, Oman, Vietnam, and Lebanon are the twelve victors who qualify directly for the Asian Cup.

The Asian Cup is played with a total of 24 teams. The final 12 teams to make the grade for the competition are decided via a final qualifying round and playoff tournament. The initial rounds of the World Cup qualifying competition also determine which teams head directly to the final qualifying round and which take part in the playoff tournament to reach the final round.

To find out more about the final matchdays and qualification positions of all teams in all eight Round Two qualifying groups, check out the results below:

Group A

With two matchdays to go, Syria had already earned their position as group winners. During the final games, all eyes were on China and the Philippines. China needed nothing less than wins over the Maldives (June 11th) and Syria (June 15th) if they were to stand a chance of advancing to the final round of the Asian 2022 World Cup qualifiers as one of the best runners-up. On the other hand, the Philippines needed a win over Guam (June 11th) to confirm third place and a decent score against the Maldives (June 15th) for the chance to enter the Asian Cup final qualifying round.

As it was, China thrashed the Maldives 5-0 and held Syria off with three goals to one, which means that the Chinese squad will be at the next round of Asian qualifiers for the World Cup.

The Philippines guaranteed a direct place at the next Asian Cup qualifiers with a 3-0 win over Guam and a 1-1 draw against the Maldives. The Maldives took fourth place and Guam fifth. 

The Maldives and Guam will head to the playoffs for their final Asian Cup qualifying chances.

Group B

With a 6 point lead and their 100% record over six games, Australia took the qualifiers by storm and, before their final matches against Nepal (June 11th) and Jordan (June 15th), had already been declared group winners. The Australian squad maintained their unbeaten run when they beat Nepal 3-0 and Jordan 1-0. Unfortunately for Jordan, the loss against the Socceroos and Kuwait's 2-1 win against Chinese Taipei saw the squad relegated to third place on goal difference. Nonetheless, while both teams made the final qualifying round for the Asian Cup, neither placed high enough overall to advance to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers.

Nepal and Chinese Taipei will head to the playoffs for their final Asian Cup qualifying chances.

Group C

The final Group C matches for the top two spots were a close run thing. Iraq sat in first place on 14 points to Iran's 12, though Iran enjoyed a goal difference of 19 to Iraq's 10. Both teams won their second from last matches (Iran vs Cambodia 10-0 and Iraq vs Hong Kong 1-0). Their final game against one another (June 15th) was to be the decider. In the end, Iran's 1-0 win over Iraq gave them the coveted first place and access to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup. However, in second place, Iraq will also be at the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers as best-runner up.

Bahrain took third place and advances to the next qualification round for the Asian Cup alongside third-placed Bahrain. Hong Kong and Cambodia will head to the playoffs for their final Asian Cup qualifying chance.

Group D

The winner of Group D was decided in the very final hours of the qualifying tournament. At the start of the final matchdays, Saudi Arabia was in first place on 14 points, with Uzbekistan close behind on 12 points. Whoever won the final match between the two opponents would be the victor and take their place at the Asian Cup and the third round of the 2022 qualifiers. On the night (June 15th), it was Saudi and their 3-0 win over Uzbekistan that made the difference. As a result, Uzbekistan took second place and will advance directly to the final qualifiers for the Asian Cup.

Palestine won their match 3-0 against Yemen (June 15th), maintaining their third-placed position and opportunity to play in the final round of the Asian Cup qualifiers, where fourth-place Singapore will join them.

Yemen will head to the playoffs for their final Asian Cup qualifying chances.

Group E

Qatar played out all eight of their qualifying games before the last two matchdays and, having had an unbeaten run, amassing 22 points and creating a 10 point lead over second-placed Oman, were crowned group winners. Having already qualified for the 2022 World Cup as hosts, Qatar qualified for just the Asian Cup. Oman, on 12 points, needed to triumph in their last two games against Afghanistan (June 11th) and Bangladesh (June 15th). Two wins would help maintain their chances of qualifying for the World Cup and the Asian Cup as best runners-up.* A 2-1 win over Afghanistan and a 3-0 victory against Bangladesh gave Oman the points they needed to qualify.

India and Afghanistan entered the last two matchdays in a race against one another for third place. Afghanistan had a game in hand, but the loss to Oman removed the advantage. A 1-1 draw against India (June 15th) just wasn't enough. As a result, Afghanistan took fourth place and India third. However, both placed high enough overall to make the Asian Cup's final qualifying round.  

Bangladesh in fifth place will head to the playoffs for their final Asian Cup qualifying chance.

Group F

Group winners Japan maintained a 100% record across their eight qualifying games, adding another 3 points and five goals to their total in their final match against Kyrgyzstan (June 15th). The Japanese squad racked up 24 points and 44 goals during the tournament, only conceding two goals throughout. Tajikistan entered the final two matchdays in a race for second place with Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan's 8-1 win against Myanmar (June 11th) put both teams 10 points; they each needed to win their final matches to take the lead. In the end, Tajikistan's 4-0 win, also against Myanmar, ensured their place in second and direct entry to the Asian Cup and the next round of the World Cup qualifiers.

Though having missed out on further World Cup qualification, Kyrgyzstan still has the opportunity to take part in the Asian Cup in the final qualifying round. Mongolia, in fourth place, will also join the final qualifying round for the Asian Cup. Meanwhile, Myanmar will head to the playoffs for their last Asian Cup qualifying chance.

Group G

None of the top four teams was finalised before the final two group matches. Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) each won their respective games against Malaysia and Indonesia on June 11th. However, it was the decider on June 15th between the two squads that crowned the victor. The UAE pipped Vietnam to the post with a 3-2 victory and entry to the Asian Cup and final Asian World Cup qualifiers. Nonetheless, Vietnam took second place and will also advance to the World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup as a best runner up.

On the same points as Thailand before their head-to-head on the 15th, Malaysia ended the competition after a 1-0 win over their opponents in fourth place - both teams now qualifying for the final Asian Cup qualifiers. Indonesia will head to the playoffs for their last Asian Cup qualifying chance.

Group H

During the last two matchdays, only the game between South Korea and Lebanon (June 11th) was left to finalise the standings in Group H. At the top of the table, South Korea was ahead of second-placed Lebanon by 3 points and a goal difference of 19. So, in effect, they had already won the group. The 2-1 win over Lebanon only cemented their position. However, Lebanon's dreams of heading to the World Cup qualifiers remained alive as their overall position saw them end the tournament as a best runner-up.

Third-placed Turkmenistan head straight to the final round of the Asian Cup qualifiers. Sri Lanka will head to the playoffs for their final Asian Cup qualifying chance.