The finishing line is in sight for 18 of the Continent’s national teams as they prepare to resume their qualifying journey for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday.

Uzbekistan laboured to a 1-0 win over DPR Korea in their opening AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Group A match at Bunyodkor Stadium on Thursday.

Six nations will battle it out in the playoffs to reach the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Qualifiers Final Round with the first leg matches set to take place on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia have a perfect record to maintain when they kickstart their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Group C campaign against Indonesia at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Thursday.

A new era begins with Jamal Sellami in charge of his first match when Jordan take on Kuwait in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Group B tie on Thursday.

Islamic Republic of Iran head into the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 2026 with high expectations, having secured qualification for the past three editions of the FIFA World Cup by topping their group.

DPR Korea showed their title ambitions with an emphatic 6-2 win over Argentina in Group F of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Colombia 2024 on Monday.

Asian players lit up the European season with scintillating performances ahead of the two-week international break.

Palestine are set to embark on their historic AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 campaign with head coach Makram Daboub laying the final touches ahead of their opening Group B tie against Korea Republic on Thursday.

Asia will be represented by four teams in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 - a tournament which has been a happy hunting ground for the continent's sides.