DILI (30 March 2011) – The road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup begins following the draw which was held this afternoon at the AFC House for the first and second round of Asian qualifiers.
The 16 lowest ranked teams – based on their record at the qualification campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup – were paired off to play home and away matches with the winners advancing to Round Two.
In the first round, ASEAN champions Malaysia will take on Chinese Taipei, Cambodia playing Laos and Sri Lanka facing the Philippines.
The other first round ties are Vietnam against Macau, Timor Leste with Macau while Myanmar will play Mongolia.
Among the ASEAN countries which gained direct entry into the second round of the qualifiers are Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.
The eight winners from Round One will join 22 higher ranked teams where the teams were paired off for home-and-away matches on 23 and 28 July 2011.
The 15 winners from the second round will join the top five direct entrants (Japan, Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Australia and Bahrain) in the third round where they will be divided into five groups of four teams each.
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil – Asian Qualifiers
Round 1
Malaysia v Chinese Taipei
Bangladesh v Pakistan
Cambodia v Laos
Sri Lanka v Philippines
Afghanistan v Palestine
Vietnam v Macau
Nepal v Timor Leste
Mongolia v Myanmar
First leg – 29 June 2010
Second leg – 3 July 2010
Round 2
Thailand v Afghanistan or Palestine
Lebanon v Bangladesh or Pakistan
China v Cambodia or Laos
Turkmenistan v Indonesia
Kuwait v Sri Lanka or Philippines
Oman v Mongolia or Myanmar
Saudi Arabia v Hong Kong
Iran v Maldives
Syria v Tajikistan
Qatar v Vietnam or Macau
Iraq v Yemen
Singapore v Malaysia or Chinese Taipei
Uzbekistan v Kyrgyzstan
UAE v India
Jordan v Nepal or Timor Leste
First leg – 23 July
Second leg – 28 July
