FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFC

The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) is one of six confederations eligible for the World Cup competition. Currently, there are 47 competing countries, most of which reside in Asia and Oceania. Qualification into the World Cup competition is determined across four rounds of tournament play, including an inter-confederation playoff qualifier for the final spot.

Football fans of the AFC span far and wide, with national teams such as Sri Lanka, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Australia, as well as 42 other countries, all taking part.

Join us as we dive deeply into the AFC World Cup odds & betting lines. We'll explain the intricacies of AFC soccer betting, how to understand the odds, popular AFC betting markets and trends, as well as cover some basic AFC wagering tips to consider for your soccer picks.

Football fans of the AFC North or any Asian team will run into continuous stumbling blocks if they aren't knowledgeable on the AFC World Cup Qualifiers odds. It doesn't matter how many player ratings you've studied or how deep your knowledge of the game extends; if you can't read and understand the soccer odds you're betting on, you won't stand a chance of garnering long-term betting success.

Moneyline, totals, props, parlays, future and all betting markets all have one thing in common, reading the odds and understanding how much you're wagering versus the potential return is universal. No matter what your wager is, once you know how to read the odds, this knowledge will translate to every other market or game you wager on.

Those having difficulty understanding odds should use the American odds format. Feel free to use our free odds converter calculator.

There are three odds formats:

American odds is the most commonly used odds format. This format simplifies the value and probability you're placing money against, making it easier for bettors to understand. 

Bettors will see a (-) or (+) in front of a number for every soccer wager available. The former represents the betting favorite or a favorable betting position with an implied probability of 50.2% or higher. The minus symbol also determines how much is needed to win $100, so if you found odds on Japan winning at -120, it would require $120 to win $100, or $240 to win $200, etc. You will always need to stake more than your potential return when betting favorites.

A $120 stake nets $100 profit, including your initial stake.

When you find the plus symbol (+) in front of the odds pricing, this is what's known as an underdog bet, also referred to as "plus money." The implied probability of underdog wagers is 50% or lower, and the pricing reflects how much a bettor will win from a $100 stake. If the odds are +120 on an underdog wager, a $100 stake would return $120.

A $100 stake nets $120 profit, including your initial stake.

The online sportsbooks recommended by our team of bookmaker experts provide an extensive selection of AFC World Cup Qualifier betting markets. Whether you're looking for betting odds on player props, team props, a playoff qualifier or any Asian Football Confederation match, you won't struggle to find a market that best suits you.

The most wagered-on AFC World Cup Qualifier markets include:

While the aforementioned AFC World Cup Qualifier betting markets are some of the most popular, bettors will find a plethora of betting options when searching through these markets, alternatives to those displayed above.

In World Cup AFC Qualification betting and soccer betting markets, the term "betting trend" generally has a double meaning. Firstly, a betting trend can be an outcome that's successively happened under the same or similar circumstances. For example, should Australia win the AFC Champions League two consecutive times, this would be classed as a trend. Or if Japan has historically defeated China for the past ten years, this would also be considered a trend.

Secondly, betting trends can refer to the current volume of bets placed at a sportsbook. Public betting trends are commonly researched by sports bettors, as they can make a consensus pick and follow the public opinion or fade the betting public football fans.

Both forms of betting trends are useful for up-and-coming AFC World Cup Qualification bettors. Understanding how well a team is currently performing, alongside the public's opinion, will give you an informed decision overall.

The Asian qualifiers are some of the most popular betting markets in Asian continents, alongside tournaments such as the AFC Champions League. However, before doing some due diligence, we'd never suggest wagering on a playoff qualifier or group-stage fixture.

It doesn't matter which AFC sports betting market you're thinking about wagering on; there's a set of handicapping rules you should follow to maintain a positive long-term bankroll.

Here are our top 5 tips to consider before betting on the AFC World Cup Qualifiers:

Whether wagering on domestic games in America or an international match overseas, you will need to employ an effective betting strategy. The more prepared you are, the higher the chances are of you making an accurate prediction come matchday. 

How many AFC teams in total can qualify for the World Cup?

The top two finishing teams from each third-round group phase qualify for the World Cup, while third-placed teams advance to the inter-confederation playoffs. The winner of the inter-confederation playoffs will also qualify for the WC, totaling five teams that can be eligible for the prestigious competition from the AFC.

How many Wild-Card teams are in the AFC?

Two wild card teams that placed in the third position of the group stage from the AFC World Cup Qualifiers go onto the inter-confederation playoffs to compete against CONMEBOL and CONCACAF wild card teams.

When do the Oceania World Cup Qualifiers take place?

The final round of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers usually takes place five to six months before the World Cup competition. However, the first round of qualifiers begins 2-3 years before the World Cup in question. Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup start on March 23, 2023.

When do oddsmakers release their AFC World Cup Qualifier odds to bettors?

Betting odds are usually released months before the first Oceania World Cup Qualifiers begin.

Is betting on the AFC World Cup Qualifiers with an online sportsbook or mobile app safe?

Sportsbooks providing betting markets for World Cup qualifiers are entirely safe. However, we only recommend using trustworthy operators that have been tried and tested by our team of devoted experts.