According to new mechanism of qualification tournament of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the AFC united qualification round of World Cup with 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

The AFC decided to start the qualification round for World Cup from the first round, in which 12 nations with low ranking will participate. The matches of the first round will be held in play-off system with home and away matches. These matches will take place on 12 and 17 March. The winners will advance to next round.

Uzbekistan will start the World Cup campaign from the second round. About 40 nations will participate in the second round and they will be divided into 8 groups.

The matches of the second round will be held from 11 June 2015 to 29 March 2016. The Day One of the second round will be held on 11 June, Day Two – 16 June, Day Three – 3 September, Day Four – 8 September, Day Five – 8 October, Day Six – 13 October, Day 7 – 12 November, Day – 17 November, Day Nine – 24 March and Day Ten – 29 March.

The winners of the groups and four runner-ups with best results will advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and third round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Twelve teams will be divided into two groups in the third round and top two teams will receive right to play in 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The teams, which did not qualify to the third round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, will continue to compete for 12 tickets to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. They will be divided into six groups with four teams in each. Top two teams will book place to the finals of the continental tournament.

It is worth to mention that number of teams in the AFC Asian Cup will grow from 16 to 24.