The preliminary joint qualification round 2 draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup was held by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Thursday, with China pitted in Group C with South Korea, Thailand and Singapore/Guam.

Australia's Martin Boyle (L) vies with China's Wang Shenchao during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Asian qualification football match between Australia and China in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 2, 2021. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, Group D saw Oman, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei/Timor-Leste drawn together while Group E will see Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong, China/Bhutan vying to advance to the next round. Group B will see Japan, Syria, DPR Korea and Myanmar/Macao battling to advance to the third round, the Asian football governing body said in a statement following the draw.

All nine group winners and the respective runners-up will advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying, and at the same time seal their places at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.

The draw for the third round qualifying for the global showpiece in 2026 will be conducted in 2024, where the 18 teams will be divided into three groups of six; the top two from each group will qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The other two direct AFC entrants will be determined in the fourth round of the World Cup qualifying, with one more possible berth available via an intercontinental playoff.

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