Competition is fierce in the Asian zone of the upcoming World Qualifiers, with a total of 4.5 spots up for grabs for a spot in the World Cup final round. Here are the specific rules for advancement and ranking:
The 12 teams in the third stage of the Asian zone are divided into two groups of six teams each, and after ten rounds of ten matches, the top two teams from each group will advance directly into the
World Cup
Final Round. The third place finishers of the two groups will then move on to the fourth stage for a tie-breaker, with the venue and order of home and away teams to be determined at the end of the third stage.
Teams that successfully advance to the fourth stage will participate in the Intercontinental Play-Offs, where they will compete against teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean, South America and Oceania. The winners will also have the opportunity to qualify for the final round.
The Top 12 group standings will be based on the 2022 FIFA released
World Cup
Clauses 20.4 and 20.6 of the Qualifier Rules determine this.
Points: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss.
Goal difference in the group stage.
Total goals scored in the group stage.
Points for wins and losses between teams with the same points in the group stage.
The goal difference between teams with the same points in the group stage.
The number of goals scored between teams with the same points in the group stage.
The number of away goals scored between teams with the same points in the group stage (if a home and away system is used).
Fair Play Points: 1 point for the first yellow card, 3 points for accumulating two yellows to one red, 4 points for a straight red card, 5 points for a yellow card followed by a red card.
The FIFA committee draws lots.
Note: In the event of equal ranked teams in different groups, a comparison will be made to determine the teams that will advance to the next stage, depending on the manner in which the competition is conducted and subject to the agreement of FIFA (Rule 20.8).
In the knockout system, the team with the higher total score advances to the next round. If the scores are equal in both rounds, the team with the most away goals advances according to the away goals rule. If the number of away goals is also the same, a 30-minute extra time is played, divided into a 15-minute first half and a 15-minute second half. In extra time, the same away goals rule applies. If there is a goal and the aggregate score is still tied, the visiting team advances by virtue of the away goal advantage. If no goals are scored in extra time, the winner is decided by a penalty shootout.
