FIFA and AFC revamped the qualifying system for the 2018 World Cup with Asia’s 47 members competing for four direct and one play-off spot for Russia 2018. Though last time teams had to chug through rigorous rounds by facing single opponents, this time around it’s much different and more suited to emerging sides like Pakistan.

The first phase involves the lowest 12 AFC sides, who will play a pre-qualifier for the group stages, similar to the Shaheens’ clash with Yemen. It gets far more interesting after that with all the sides including big guns Japan, UAE, Australia and Uzbekistan getting involved.

Five pots with seeded teams will be placed in each group with countries getting to play four qualifiers at home and four away, crucially on FIFA dates. The top team gets a 2019 Asian Cup slot and entry into the final qualification round of the World Cup, while the second side will be compared to other teams for possible World Cup qualification alongside a confirmed berth for Asia’s biggest football competition.

The two lower sides get into the third round of qualification for the Asian Cup, while even the lowest ranked team in the group could have a slim chance of featuring in the Asian Cup, which gives them an additional six valuable games on FIFA dates because of the extended third round.

Once the second round group stage ends, the final qualification for Russia 2019 sees two groups with six sides battling it out and the top two sides featuring in world football’s biggest tournament. The two third-ranked teams will then slug it out for an inter-continental playoff that could possibly result in a lucrative World Cup berth. — S.S

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, March 22nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play