The Asian Football Confederation on 17 July conducted the ‘Road to 26’ Playoffs draw in Kuala Lumpur, mapping out the final phase of the continent’s qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under the format confirmed during the ceremony, the remaining eight nations are split into two groups. The winners of each four-team section will claim the last two of Asia’s direct World Cup berths, while the two runners-up will meet over two legs for the right to represent Asia in the inter-confederation play-off. The draw follows three completed qualifying rounds and gives teams such as Indonesia—seeded in Pot 3 alongside Oman—a clear view of their paths. Competitive fixtures are scheduled to begin later this year, with exact match dates to be announced by AFC.