AFC qualifying determined four direct berths plus one intercontinental play-off spot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup among 43 Asian teams.
Key Facts
- Teams competing
- 43 teams
- Direct AFC berths
- 4 berths
- Intercontinental play-off spots
- 1 (possible)
- Direct qualifiers
- Iran, South Korea, Australia, Japan
- Play-off qualifier (AFC)
- Jordan (defeated Uzbekistan)
- Play-off opponent (CONMEBOL)
- Uruguay (5th place)
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
FIFA allocated four guaranteed spots and one potential intercontinental play-off place to the AFC for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, requiring 43 Asian national teams to compete through a structured qualification process to claim those limited positions.
Across multiple rounds, 43 AFC member teams contested qualification. Iran and South Korea advanced from Group A, while Australia and Japan emerged from Group B, securing the four direct berths. Jordan then overcame Uzbekistan in an intra-confederation play-off to represent the AFC in an intercontinental tie.
Jordan faced CONMEBOL fifth-place team Uruguay in the intercontinental play-off but failed to qualify, leaving the AFC with four representatives at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The play-off slot selection method also changed, using a random draw rather than a predetermined confederation opponent.