AFC qualification pathway to Russia 2018 World Cup

[Pablo]

In June (match dates 11 &16), our Socceroos will begin their qualification campaign towards Russia 2018

Format can be seen at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(AFC)

 

In summary, this will mean two group phases, with the first stage being 8 groups of 5 teams

Final group stage will bring together the winners of above 8 groups plus best 4 runners up, and
so will be split into 2 groups of 6 teams

 

Top two from each group will automatically qualify for Russia 2018, while (most likely) 3rd placed teams play off
for right to play against team from another confederation

 

So this means the Socceroos will have to play a minimum of 18 games over 2 years to qualify

 

Australia will be seeded in top Pot for first groups stage, and so avoid any of bigger teams (i.e. quarter finalists at AC)

Most likely opponents will be a mix of one from Gulf-Middle East, two from East Asia and one from Central Asia-Sub Continent

 

Full match dates schedule and calendars for AFC is available at

 

http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/afc_competitions_calendar_2015.pdf

 

http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/competitions_calendar_2016-2018_ac2019-june-july-ver_0.pdf

 

The draw for first group stage will be in April

Edited February 9, 2015 by Pablo

[ColdRock]

I thought we get automatic qualification as Asian champions?

[Nnnnnathan12]

no automatic world cup qualifying, all we get out of winning the asian cup is 2017 confederations cup

[Nnnnnathan12]

Also this qualifying will act as qualifiers for the 2019 asian cup as well, 
2019 asian cup will have 24 teams, so presumably it will contain the hosts plus the best of the top nations during 2018 WC qualifying

[Michael]

Wow, seems just like yesterday we were in Brazil for the WC, now qualification for the Russia WC is about to begin...

[wilsonpastore]

there will be a lot of buzz going into the qualification process. i eagerly await the first qualifier in sydney. though time is ripe to give adelaide or perth a game, certain they would sell out adelaide oval/nib for a game against an arab team.

[Prydzopolis]

there will be a lot of buzz going into the qualification process. i eagerly await the first qualifier in sydney. though time is ripe to give adelaide or perth a game, certain they would sell out adelaide oval/nib for a game against an arab team.

They intend to take the minnow Asian countries to Perth, Adelaide etc and keep the big matches in the main capitals

[Pablo]

Draw for home and away play offs in March between 12 lowest ranked teams in AFC will be held later today (7pm AEDST) in KL, Malaysia

 

http://www.the-afc.com/2018-world-cup-asian-cup-2019/stage-set-for-2018-world-cup-2019-asian-cup-joint-qualifiers-draw

 

Six winners will then join the other 34 teams in first groups stage, so 40 teams in 8 groups of 5

 

(The 12 teams in play offs are India, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Timor Leste, Nepal, Macau, Pakistan, Mongolia, Brunei and Bhutan)

 

Consequently, we (Socceroos) will highly likely (75% chance) get one of the above teams (from Pot 5) in our group from June
 

Edited February 10, 2015 by Pablo

[Davo]

Imagine the crowds if we got India in our group.

[DCWSW]

Imagine the crowds if we got India in our group.

 

FFA will be licking its lips 

[Pablo]

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia / AFC Asian Cup 2019 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 - Draw Results

 

India vs Nepal

Yemen vs Pakistan

Timor-Leste vs Mongolia

Cambodia vs Macau

Chinese Tapei vs Brunei

Sri Lanka vs Bhutan

[West13]

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia / AFC Asian Cup 2019 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 - Draw Results

 

India vs Nepal

Yemen vs Pakistan

Timor-Leste vs Mongolia

Cambodia vs Macau

Chinese Tapei vs Brunei

Sri Lanka vs Bhutan

Ohhh the big derby between India and Nepal! India vs Pakistan would've been better!!

[Pablo]

 

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia / AFC Asian Cup 2019 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 - Draw Results

India vs Nepal

Yemen vs Pakistan

Timor-Leste vs Mongolia

Cambodia vs Macau

Chinese Tapei vs Brunei

Sri Lanka vs Bhutan

Ohhh the big derby between India and Nepal! India vs Pakistan would've been better!!

Nepal beat India 2-1 at group stage of 2013 SAFF Championship

[Nnnnnathan12]

Even Sri Lanka and Pakistan would draw a crowd

[tuco]

the Nepali league draws a good crowd depending on the game.

i tried to get in to see a game at katmandu but it was sold out.

 

 

and even the kids try out different tactics, use of 3 at the back at Namche Bazaar;

 

 

Go Nepal!

[Nnnnnathan12]

Asian world cup qualifying won't heat up until North Korea arrive, 

[Gazmon]

Asian world cup qualifying won't heat up until North Korea arrive, 

 

"No, no, no. You all ROOOOSERS!!!"

[Pablo]

Asian world cup qualifying won't heat up until North Korea arrive,

 

The way seeding Pots will work, NK will struggle to get beyond first groups stage

 

They will be drawn against 2 teams in top 16 ranked inc one frm top 8 ranked

 

Realistically unless they improve greatly on AC performances, hard to see them grabbing one of four best 2nd placed teams to progress

[tuco]

does anyone know if there is a chance that the final round can be manipulated or will the top 4 seeds be split 2 by 2?

 

reason i ask is because of the middle east countries being pissed about not making a world cup.

they could say only top 2 nations are split (iran and japan) then have a draw that ends up, for example;

 

Group 1: Japan, Australia, Sth Korea, Uzbekistan, China, Iraq. 

Group 2: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait.

Edited February 12, 2015 by tuco

[West13]

does anyone know if there is a chance that the final round can be manipulated or will the top 4 seeds be split 2 by 2?

 

reason i ask is because of the middle east countries being pissed about not making a world cup.

they could say only top 2 nations are split (iran and japan) then have a draw that ends up, for example;

 

Group 1: Japan, Australia, Sth Korea, Uzbekistan, China, Iraq.

Group 2: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait.

I reckon it will be 1 and 3 together, 2 and 4 together.. the rest scattered.

[Pablo]

does anyone know if there is a chance that the final round can be manipulated or will the top 4 seeds be split 2 by 2?

 

reason i ask is because of the middle east countries being pissed about not making a world cup.

they could say only top 2 nations are split (iran and japan) then have a draw that ends up, for example;

 

Group 1: Japan, Australia, Sth Korea, Uzbekistan, China, Iraq. 

Group 2: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait.

 

the scenario outlined above cannot happen esp as new rankings (to be released later today by FIFA) will be vastly different inc e.g. Australia into at least third, and possible second spot in AFC

 

the top four ranked teams will be split evenly into the two groups, as per previous WC qualification with two groups

 

assuming Australia makes the final group stage, then we'd most likely only meet one of Japan, Korea Republic and Iran, assuming the overall rankings hold up - UAE could potentially be the upset factor to knock say Iran out of top four ranking before mid 2016

 

under current policy of AFC, there can be no manipulation to favour East Asian nations through the draw processes

including into the final group stage

Edited February 12, 2015 by Pablo

[Pablo]

Looking at updated rankings issued by FIFA yesterday, this is most likely scenario for Australia's group opponents

 

only one nation from Gulf-Middle East

 

then the other three will be a mix from East / Southern / Central Asia

 

rankings for AFC members are:

http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/afc.html

 

so Australia into fourth, although closing in on main rivals

 

surprise is Iran, esp after being dumped at QF stage of AC

Edited February 13, 2015 by Pablo

[tuco]

The Iran ranking is strange but those rankings are always skewed.

 

Like how is Cape Verde Islands ranked at 35?

Even if they picked a side full of Portuguese there's no way they should be that high.

 

Anyway the real test for Ange will be playing away from home and adapting his tactics to the conditions.

Good luck with playing a high tempo & high pressing system in 40 degree heat/90% humidity.

[Pablo]

Put 11 April in your diaries for draw by AFC for WC qualifying groups and fixtures across Asia

 

We'll know then which home game of Socceroos goes to Perth - will be in either June or September

[West13]

Put 11 April in your diaries for draw by AFC for WC qualifying groups and fixtures across Asia

 

We'll know then which home game of Socceroos goes to Perth - will be in either June or September

But but we'll be at Gosford that day.

[Pablo]

 

Put 11 April in your diaries for draw by AFC for WC qualifying groups and fixtures across Asia

 

We'll know then which home game of Socceroos goes to Perth - will be in either June or September

But but we'll be at Gosford that day.

 

 

double celebration with Spira and Tomi  !!

[Nnnnnathan12]

My brother has joined me, 

is anyone else in??

 

[Davo]

You could get a gig with the cove tifo crew with that effort.

[Nnnnnathan12]

for those that have been to a world cup before, 

how does the ticketing for the games work?
I'm assuming that you have to sign up to an FFA official fan register or something like that or sign up for the official travel packages?

[Pablo]

for those that have been to a world cup before, 

 

how does the ticketing for the games work?

I'm assuming that you have to sign up to an FFA official fan register or something like that or sign up for the official travel packages?

 

I went to South Africa 2010 right through to the final

 

based upon last two WCs, the FIFA ticketing requires applicants to register online and apply for tickets at various stages with ballots used if required, especially of course for high demand games and teams

 

usually two main options are Venue Specific Tickets (VSTs) and Team Specific Tickets (TSTs) 3,4,5,6,7 for a series of games i.e. for just group games, to R16, to QF, to SF or to including final

 

there are also application stages for individual match tickets 

 

to complement the above, there are PMA ticket packages to follow specific teams and available for genuine fans

via a portal linked from the relevant national association's website - in the past two WCs this worked well for Australian fans through separate registration via FFA to FIFA portal - options were for just group games or conditional extending to include various stages of knock out stage should team progress, which obviously we didn't in 2010 and 2014

 

expect some similar system for Russia 2018, with ticket applications to open soon after the main draw is made in late 2017

 

hope this makes sense and helps

 

 

 

 

Edited February 21, 2015 by Pablo