2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Asia): Round 2 Matchday 1 round-up

India beat Kuwait by 1 goal

The latest round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Asian region) delivered a football spectacle, featuring major clashes that underscored the competitiveness of the tournament. It featured compelling showdowns, including India facing Kuwait, Japan taking on Myanmar, and Syria challenging North Korea. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia clashed with Pakistan, and Lebanon went head-to-head with Palestine. 

The latest round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Asian region) delivered a football spectacle, featuring major clashes that underscored the competitiveness of the tournament. It featured compelling showdowns, including India facing Kuwait, Japan taking on Myanmar, and Syria challenging North Korea. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia clashed with Pakistan, and Lebanon went head-to-head with Palestine. 

In Group A, Qatar demonstrated their dominance with a remarkable 8-1 victory over Afghanistan, showcasing their offensive prowess and solidifying their position as frontrunners in the group. Meanwhile, India secured a narrow 1-0 win against Kuwait, setting the stage for an intriguing battle for supremacy in this tightly contested group.

Group B witnessed Japan's commanding performance as they secured a 5-0 win against Myanmar, highlighting their strength in the competition. In another fixture, Syria clinched a crucial 1-0 victory over Korea DPR, adding an element of unpredictability to the group standings.

Turning to Group C, the Korean Republic continued their strong campaign with a convincing 5-0 win over Singapore, while China PR emerged victorious in a closely contested match against Thailand with a 2-1 scoreline. The competition in Group C is heating up, promising intense battles for the top spot.

In Group D, Malaysia emerged victorious in a high-scoring encounter, defeating Kyrgyz Republic 4-3. At the same time, Oman secured a comfortable 3-0 win against Chinese Taipei, setting the stage for a competitive race to the top of the group.

Group E saw Uzbekistan triumphing over Turkmenistan with a 3-1 win, asserting their strength in Central Asia. Meanwhile, IR Iran displayed their dominance with a resounding 4-0 victory against Hong Kong. Both teams are now set to battle for supremacy in what promises to be a closely contested group.

Vietnam secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over the Philippines in Group F, while Iraq showcased their attacking prowess with a resounding 5-1 win against Indonesia. The group is shaping up to be fiercely competitive, with these teams eyeing a spot in the next stage of the qualifiers.

In Group G, Tajikistan and Jordan played out a tightly contested 1-1 draw, leaving the group dynamics open. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, displayed their dominance with a convincing 4-0 win over Pakistan, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the top spot.

Group H featured the United Arab Emirates delivering a clinical 4-0 win against Nepal, while Bahrain secured three crucial points with a 2-0 victory over Yemen. The competition in this group is intensifying as teams aim to secure a coveted spot in the next stage.

Lastly, in Group I, Australia asserted their strength with a dominant 7-0 triumph over Bangladesh, underlining their status as clear favourites in the group. The fixture between Lebanon and Palestine ended in a goalless draw, leaving the group open for potential upsets in the subsequent matches.

Date	Stage	Home	Result	Away	Venue
November 16 2023	Group A	Qatar	8-1	Afghanistan	Khalifa International Stadium
November 16 2023	Group A	Kuwait	0-1	India	Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
November 16 2023	Group B	Japan	5-0	Myanmar	Suita City Stadium
November 16 2023	Group B	Syria	1-0	North Korea	Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
November 16 2023	Group C	South Korea	5-0	Singapore	Seoul World Cup Stadium
November 16 2023	Group C	Thailand	1-2	China	Rajamangala Stadium
November 16 2023	Group D	Oman	3-0	Chinese Taipei	Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex
November 16 2023	Group D	Malaysia	4-3	Kyrgyzstan	Burkit Jalil Stadium
November 16 2023	Group E	Iran	4-0	Hong Kong	Azadi Stadium
November 16 2023	Group E	Turkmenistan	1-3	Uzbekistan	Ashgabat Stadium
November 16 2023	Group F	Iraq	5-1	Indonesia	Basra International Stadium
November 16 2023	Group F	Philippines	0-2	Vietnam	Rizal Memorial Stadium
November 16 2023	Group G	Saudi Arabia	4-0	Pakistan	Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
November 16 2023	Group G	Tajikistan	1-1	Jordan	Central Republican Stadium
November 16 2023	Group H	United Arab Emirates	4-0	Nepal	Al-Maktoum Stadium
November 16 2023	Group H	Yemen	0-2	Bahrain	Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
November 16 2023	Group I	Australia	7-0	Bangladesh	Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
November 16 2023	Group I	Lebanon	0-0	Palestine	Khalid bin Mohammed Stadium

As the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers progress, each group presents its own unique narrative, with teams battling fiercely for top spots and a chance to advance in the prestigious tournament.