2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification – Third Round
The third round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification will be played from 28 March 2017 to 27 March 2018.
Format
A total of 24 teams (16 teams which advanced from the second round and eight teams which advanced from the play-off round) compete in the third round to compete for the final 12 slots in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[1][2] Since the hosts United Arab Emirates advanced to the third round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, the automatic slot for the hosts is no longer necessary.
The 24 teams are divided into six groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top two teams of each group will qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, where they are joined by the 12 teams which qualified directly from the second round.[3]
Qualified teams
| Group (2nd round) |
Runners-up (Worst 4) | Third place | Fourth place (Best 4 + Play-off) | Fifth place (Play-off) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | — |  Palestine |
 Malaysia (Play-off Round 1) |
— |
| B |  Jordan |
 Kyrgyzstan |
 Tajikistan (Play-off Round 1) |
— |
| C | — |  Hong Kong |
 Maldives (Play-off Round 2) |
 Bhutan (Play-off Round 2) |
| D |  Oman |
 Turkmenistan |
 Guam |
 India (Play-off Round 1) |
| E | — |  Singapore |
 Afghanistan |
 Cambodia (Play-off Round 1) |
| F | — |  Vietnam |
 Chinese Taipei (Play-off Round 2) |
— |
| G |  Lebanon |
 Kuwait[nb 1] |
 Myanmar |
— |
| H |  North Korea |
 Philippines |
 Bahrain |
 Yemen (Play-off Round 1) |
- Notes
- ↑ The Kuwait Football Association is currently suspended by FIFA.[4] If their suspension is not lifted by 18 December 2016, Kuwait will not be able to participate in the qualifiers.[5]
Draw
The draw for the AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers Final Round will be held on 18 January 2017.[5]
References
- ↑ "ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals". AFC. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "World Cup draw looms large in Asia". FIFA.com. 13 April 2015.
Completing the [Asian Cup] 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.
- ↑ "AFC Asian Cup 2019 Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
- ↑ "FIFA Congress drives football forward, first female secretary general appointed". FIFA. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- 1 2 "AFC Competitions Committee recommends new AFC Cup format". AFC. 25 November 2016.
External links
- AFC Asian Cup, the-AFC.com