2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
Tournament details
Dates24 November 2000 - 15 November 2001
Teams39 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played153
Goals scored587 (3.84 per match)
Attendance2,730,506 (17,846 per match)
Top scorer(s)Oman Hani Al-Dhabit
Oman Yaqoob Juma Al-Mukhaini
Saudi Arabia Talal Al-Meshal
Syria Said Bayazid
(11 goals each)
1998
2006

Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for Asia.

The Asian Football Confederation was allocated four and half qualifying berths for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, South Korea and Japan, the co-hosts, qualified automatically, leaving two and half spots open for competition between 40 teams. Myanmar withdrew from the tournament after being placed in Group 2 but before any matches had been played, therefore reducing the group to 3 teams.

Afghanistan, Bhutan and North Korea chose not to participate.

Asia's two remaining automatic qualifying berths were taken by Saudi Arabia and China.

Iran defeated United Arab Emirates for the chance to become the possible third Asian qualifier, but lost to Ireland in the inter-continental play-off.