Group A
Islamic Republic of Iran and Uzbekistan will go into Matchday Five with the knowledge that if they win their respective games, it will take them towards the fringes of confirming their spots in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Both are on 10 points, with Iran ahead on goal difference.

Amir Ghalenoei’s Iran face DPR Korea in Vientiane while Uzbekistan – who will hope to have Srecko Katanec in the dugout after the head coach missed the last two matches through illness – travel to Doha to play Qatar.

The group’s third match will see the United Arab Emirates hosting Kyrgyz Republic.

Iran, who cruised 4-1 past Qatar on Matchday Four, will be confident of another three points while anything lesser than a win for DPR Korea will mean their dream of a top two finish – which means automatic qualification – will surely be over.

It is a similar situation for Qatar as defeat against Uzbekistan and an Iran win will mean the two-time AFC Asian Cup™ champions will be nine points behind the top two with just three matches remaining.

UAE, also on four points, will be determined to stay in the race with victory against Kyrgyz Republic.

It will not be an easy task as debutants Kyrgyz Republic, who still have an outside chance of qualifying, have proven to be a tough team to crack.

DPR Korea v IR Iran
Venue: Lao National Stadium KM16 (Vientiane)
Kick-off: Thursday, 19:00 (UTC+7)

Qatar v Uzbekistan
Venue: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (Doha)
Kick-off: Thursday, 19:15 (UTC+3)

UAE v Kyrgyz Republic
Venue: Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi)
Kick-off: Thursday, 20:15 (UTC+4)
Group B
Korea Republic will welcome Son Heung-min back after the talismanic captain missed the last two match days through injury with the East Asian side aiming to continue from where they left off.

Victories against Iraq and Jordan saw Korea Republic opening a three-point lead at the top of Group B and they will be determined to not slip up when they travel to face Kuwait in their bid for an 11th successive FIFA World Cup appearance.

Kuwait, however, need victory as they currently sit six points behind Korea Republic and four behind Jordan and Iraq.

Jordan will face Iraq in a clash that will see the winning side opening a three-point advantage against the losing team, which could prove to be crucial in the race for the top two spots in Group B.

Oman will host Palestine aiming to bounce back from their defeat to Jordan, with both sides knowing that anything less than victory will probably mean the end of their FIFA World Cup dreams.

Kuwait v Korea Republic
Venue: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium (Ardhiyah)
Kick-off: Thursday, 17:00 (UTC+3)

Oman v Palestine
Venue: Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex (Muscat)
Kick-off: Thursday, 20:00 (UTC+4)

Iraq v Jordan
Venue: Basra International Stadium (Basra)
Kick-off: Thursday, 19:15 (UTC+3)
Group C
Japan will be out to maintain their tight grip on Group C when they travel to face Indonesia, with the match to be played at the imposing Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Friday.

The East Asian side’s winning run was snapped following a 1-1 draw with Australia on Matchday Four but a five-point lead at the top means they are comfortably on track for an eighth consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup.

Indonesia, who opened their debut AFC Asian Qualifiers appearance with three draws, suffered a 2-1 defeat against China PR on Matchday Four and Shin Tae Yong’s side will look to bounce back with a famous win in front of their home fans.

A haul of just one point from a possible six for Saudi Arabia from the last two matchdays saw the departure of Italian Roberto Mancini with Herve Renard returning as head coach and the Frenchman will be aiming to hit the ground running when the West Asian side travel to face Australia.

With both, together with Bahrain, on five points, the tie at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium promises to be a thriller especially as Australia – who had Tony Popovic taking charge following his appointment as head coach in place of Graham Arnold – collected four points from their last two matches to pull themselves back into the race.

Bahrain, who have not won since defeating Australia on Matchday One, will hope for a better outcome when they host China PR but the East Asian side will be equally determined after snapping their three-match losing run with victory over Indonesia on Matchday Four.

Australia v Saudi Arabia
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (Melbourne)
Kick-off: Thursday, 20:10 (UTC+11)

Bahrain v China PR
Venue: Bahrain National Stadium
Kick-off: Thursday, 17:00 (UTC+3)

Indonesia v Japan
Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (Jakarta)
Kick-off: Friday, 19:00 (UTC+7)