FIFA and the AFC have announced that matches in the AFC first group phase will be postponed through at least the end of 2020 due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The remaining four matchdays were to have been played in OCT-NOV 2020.

The first group phase, which also decides some of the places at the 2023 Men’s Asian Cup, has been on hold since MAR 2020. FIFA and the AFC will announce a revised qualifying schedule at a later date.