section_path: Confederation qualification/AFC
section_name: AFC
paragraph_text: AFC
  
  On 1 August 2022, the Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee approved the qualification format for Asia's road to the 2026 World Cup, as well as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, in preparation for the eight direct spots and the single intercontinental play-off slot allocated to the AFC by FIFA following the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams. The draw for the first round was held on 27 July 2023 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The draw for the second round took place two hours later.
  
  The qualification structure is as follows:
  
  Sri Lanka were suspended in January 2023 and they did not appear in the draw information the AFC released in early July. However, they were re-added with the condition that their federation hold elections at least ten days before qualification starts.
  
  On 1 August 2022, the Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee approved the qualification format for Asia's road to the 2026 World Cup, as well as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, in preparation for the eight direct spots and the single intercontinental play-off slot allocated to the AFC by FIFA following the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams. The draw for the first round was held on 27 July 2023 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The draw for the second round took place two hours later.
  
  The qualification structure is as follows:
  
  Sri Lanka were suspended in January 2023 and they did not appear in the draw information the AFC released in early July. However, they were re-added with the condition that their federation hold elections at least ten days before qualification starts.