The logo for the 2026 World Cup is shown on a screen outside Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles on on May 17, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

KUALA LUMPUR - The preliminary joint qualification round 2 draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup was held by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) here on Thursday, with China pitted in Group C with South Korea, Thailand and Singapore/Guam.

Meanwhile, Group D saw Oman, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei/Timor-Leste drawn together while Group E will see Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong, China/Bhutan vying to advance to the next round. Group B will see Japan, Syria, DPR Korea and Myanmar/Macao battling to advance to the third round, the Asian football governing body said in a statement following the draw.

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All nine group winners and the respective runners-up will advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying, and at the same time seal their places at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.

The draw for the third round qualifying for the global showpiece in 2026 will be conducted in 2024, where the 18 teams will be divided into three groups of six; the top two from each group will qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

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The other two direct AFC entrants will be determined in the fourth round of the World Cup qualifying, with one more possible berth available via an intercontinental playoff.