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21 March 2025

AFC FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Begin March 20 With Key Matches

Intense competition heats up as Asian teams vie for coveted World Cup spots in 2026.

The third round of the AFC FIFA World Cup Qualifiers is set to kick off on March 20, 2025, bringing together top Asian football teams as they vie for crucial spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

With intense competition on the horizon, the first day of matches will see nine games unfold, starting with Australia taking on Indonesia at Allianz Stadium in Sydney at 2:40 PM IST. This thrilling start sets the tone for the rest of the matches scheduled throughout the day, including the much-anticipated match between Korea Republic and Oman, which kicks off at 4:30 PM IST at Goyang Stadium.

Also competing on March 20 are Japan and Bahrain, who face off at Saitama Stadium at 4:05 PM, and Saudi Arabia clashing with China PR at 11:45 PM, showcasing some of the best talent in Asian football. The full schedule of matches for March 20 includes:

DateMatchTime (IST)VenueMarch 20Australia vs. Indonesia2:40 PMAllianz Stadium, SydneyMarch 20Japan vs. Bahrain4:05 PMSaitama Stadium, JapanMarch 20Korea Republic vs. Oman4:30 PMGoyang Stadium, South KoreaMarch 20IR Iran vs. United Arab Emirates9:30 PMAzadi Stadium, IranMarch 20Uzbekistan vs. Kyrgyz Republic9:30 PMBunyodkor Stadium, UzbekistanMarch 20Jordan vs. Palestine11:45 PMAmman International Stadium, JordanMarch 20Saudi Arabia vs. China PR11:45 PMAl-Awwal Park, Saudi ArabiaMarch 20Iraq vs. Kuwait11:45 PMBasra International Stadium, IraqMarch 20Qatar vs. North Korea11:45 PMJassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Qatar

Following this action-packed day, the next set of matches will unfold on March 25. Here, teams will have the opportunity to solidify their standings on the road to the World Cup. Key matches include Japan facing Saudi Arabia at 4:05 PM IST and Korea Republic going up against Jordan at 4:30 PM IST, both set to take place in Japan and South Korea, respectively. The matches scheduled for March 25 are just as intense:

DateMatchTime (IST)VenueMarch 25Korea DPR vs. United Arab EmiratesTBCPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaMarch 25Japan vs. Saudi Arabia4:05 PMSaitama Stadium, JapanMarch 25Korea Republic vs. Jordan4:30 PMSuwon World Cup Stadium, South KoreaMarch 25China PR vs. Australia4:30 PMHangzhou Sports Park Stadium, ChinaMarch 25Indonesia vs. Bahrain7:15 PMGelora Bung Karno Complex, IndonesiaMarch 25Kyrgyz Republic vs. Qatar7:15 PMSpartak Stadium, KyrgyzstanMarch 25IR Iran vs. Uzbekistan9:30 PMAzadi Stadium, IranMarch 25Palestine vs. Iraq11:45 PMAmman International Stadium, JordanMarch 25Kuwait vs. Oman11:45 PMJaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, KuwaitMarch 25Palestine vs. United Arab Emirates11:45 PMPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Saudi Arabia

This round of qualifiers is critical not just for the teams but also for fans who anticipate seeing their national squads vie for a place in one of the most prestigious tournaments in football.

The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – AFC Round 3 will also feature crucial matches on June 5 and June 10, 2025. With various teams still in the hunt for qualification, these matches are likely to be equally competitive, ensuring that the excitement in Asian football continues to build.

As the teams prepare for what promises to be an exhilarating few weeks, fans worldwide are eager to support their nations as they work towards that coveted spot at the FIFA World Cup 2026.