As August 2022 winds down, AFC has officially unveiled the 2026

World Cup

Asian qualifiers and 2027

Asian cup (e.g. soccer)

A new format for the qualifiers, a change that makes the original 4.5

World Cup

The number of places (including four through places and one intercontinental play-off place) has surged to 8.5.

2026 under the new tournament system

World Cup

The third stage of the Asian qualifiers will be upgraded from the previous 10-team and 12-team tournaments to an 18-team tournament, where the 18 teams will be divided into three groups of six teams each for a double round-robin home-and-away competition, with the top two teams from each group (totaling six teams) advancing directly to the next stage of the tournament. The third and fourth place finishers in each group (6 teams in total) will be divided into two groups of three teams each, playing a single round robin, with the first place finishers in each group advancing directly, and the second place finishers in each group playing a play-off game, with the winners representing Asia!

World Cup

Intercontinental play-offs for the last 0.5 promotion places.

The announcement instantly sparked a conversation about

national soccer team

Shocking the next

World Cup

The prospects are hotly debated. Theoretically, the increase in the number of places undoubtedly provides

national soccer team

More opportunities are available. However, the key to capitalizing on these opportunities is also to

national soccer team

Self-improvement. Looking back at this year's Qatar

World Cup

Asian Zone 12 Rankings.

national soccer team

placed fifth in the group and between ninth and tenth overall, despite the increase in the number of places to 8.5 for the next qualifying tournament.

national soccer team

There is still work to be done.

at the present time

national soccer team

The world rankings bode well for the 2026

World Cup

It will begin with the mid-stage qualifiers. This phase of the qualifiers is divided into nine groups of four teams each. The FIFA rankings will be an important basis for the slotting draw, so for the

national soccer team

For that matter, it is crucial to improve the FIFA ranking to the top nine in Asia and secure a favorable signing. To this end, the

national soccer team

Need to go all out in the next international tournaments to get more national team points.

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