1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)


Listed below are the dates and results for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the Asian zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Format

A total of 36 teams entered the competition. The Asian zone was allocated 3.5 places in the final tournament.
There were three rounds of play:
  • First round: The 36 teams were divided into 10 groups of 3 or 4 teams each. The teams played against each other twice, except in Group 10, where the teams played against each other once. The group winners advanced to the second round.
  • Second round: The 10 teams were divided into 2 groups of 5 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners qualified for the World Cup. The runners-up advanced to the third round.
  • Third round: The two teams played against each other once in Malaysia. The winner qualify for the World Cup. The loser advanced to the AFC–OFC intercontinental play-offs.

First round

Group 8

Third round

Inter-confederation play-offs

3–3 on aggregate, Iran won on away goals

Qualified teams

The following four teams from AFC qualified for the final tournament.
TeamQualified asQualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA World Cup1
1
4
0
1

Goalscorers

There were 459 goals scored in 132 matches, for an average of 3.53 goals per match.
;19 goals
;14 goals
;9 goals
;8 goals
;7 goals
;6 goals
;5 goals
;4 goals
;3 goals
;2 goals
;1 goal
;1 own goal