Introduction

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar marks a historic milestone as the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East. As part of the build-up to this remarkable event, the qualifiers have captured the attention of football enthusiasts across the globe. In Asia, the qualification process stands as a rigorous and tumultuous journey for competing nations. This blog aims to guide you through the structure, stages, and highlights of the Asian qualifiers, offering insights into the pathways that lead to the world’s most prestigious football tournament.

Qualification Structure

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) oversees a comprehensive qualification process that spans several stages and involves numerous teams from across the continent. The qualification process for the 2022 World Cup consists of multiple rounds designed to narrow the field to the best-performing teams. Here’s an overview of the structure:

Preliminary Round

The qualification journey begins with a preliminary round, featuring the lowest-ranked teams within the AFC. These teams are pitted against each other in home-and-away knockout format matches. The winners then move on to join higher-ranked teams