This page provides the summaries of the AFC Fourth Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Contents
Format
The fourth round saw the five group winners and five group runners-up from the third round split into two groups of five. The matches were played from 3 June 2012 to 18 June 2013. The top two teams from each group advanced to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, while the two third-placed teams advanced to the fifth round.
Seeding
The draw for Round Four was held on 9 March 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the teams seeded according to their March 2012 FIFA Ranking. The FIFA rankings used were released on 7 March 2012 and included all matches from the third round of Asian Qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The ten teams (shown below with their March 2012 FIFA Ranking in brackets, and their positions in the third round in small brackets) are split into five pots, with each group containing a team from each pot.
Groups
The matches were played from 3 June 2012 to 18 June 2013.
As the last matchday overlaps with the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (which commences on 15 June 2013), the fourth round draw was adjusted to ensure Japan (the representative of the AFC for the Confederations Cup) received a bye on 18 June 2013, by placing them on Position 5 (instead of Position 2 where Japan were supposed to be placed as of the date of draw) in their group in order not to play on the last matchday.
Lebanon defender Ramez Dayoub was convicted of match-fixing after his back pass led to the only goal of the match in a 1-0 defeat by Qatar. Dayoub was suspended for life by the Lebanese Football Association.
Goalscorers
There were 86 goals scored in 40 games, for an average of 2.15 goals per game.