FIFA and the AFC have decided to postpone most of the remaining matches in the AFC first group phase to MON 31 MAY-TUE 15 JUN 2021, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel and quarantine restrictions that remain in place in many nations. Four matches will be played as scheduled in MAR 2021.

The AFC also announced that it will schedule the remaining group matches in central locations MON 31 MAY-TUE 15 JUN 2021. The sites and match schedules are yet to be determined.

• THU 25 MAR 2021:
  • Group D: Saudi Arabia-Yemen
  • Group F: Tajikistan-Mongolia
• TUE 30 MAR 2021:
  • Group B: Nepal-Australia
  • Group F: Mongolia-Japan
• MON 31 MAY-TUE 15 JUN 2021: All remaining matches