1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)

Tournament details
Teams	21 (from 2 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Top scorer(s)	Keith Nelson (7 goals)
← 1974 1982 →

Listed below are the dates and results for the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the Asian and Oceanian zone (AFC and OFC). For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification.

A total of 21 AFC and OFC teams and Israel^[1] entered the competition. However, South Vietnam could not compete after being annexed by Vietnam. The Asian zone was allocated 1 place (out of 16) in the final tournament.

Format

There would be two rounds of play:

• First Round: The 21 teams would be divided into 5 groups. The groups had different rules, as follows:
  • Group 1 had 6 teams. The teams played against each other once in Singapore. The top 2 teams after the group matches played against each other in a single match. The winner would advance to the Final Round.
  • Groups 2 and 3 had 4 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.
  • Group 4 had 4 teams. The teams played against each other twice in Qatar. The group winner would qualify.
  • Group 5 had 3 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.
• Final Round: The 5 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.

First round

Group 1

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Hong Kong	4	2	2	0	9	5	+4	6	Advance to Play-off
2	Singapore	4	2	1	1	5	6	−1	5
3	Malaysia	4	1	2	1	7	6	+1	4
4	Indonesia	4	1	1	2	7	7	0	3
5	Thailand	4	1	0	3	8	12	−4	2
6	Sri Lanka	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Withdrew

27 February 1977

Singapore	2–0	Thailand
Quah Kim Song 48' Rajagopal 70'

National Stadium, Singapore

Attendance: 55,000

Referee: Boskovic (Australia)

28 February 1977

Hong Kong	4–1	Indonesia
Chung Chor Wai 61' (pen.) Wun Chee Keung 67' Kwok Ka Ming 71' Lau Wing Yip 83'		Waskito Kaihun 12'

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Namdar (Iran)

1 March 1977

Malaysia	6–4	Thailand
James 15', 38', 51', 60' Isa Bakar 17', 19'		Jesdaporn 24', 67' Witthaya 86' Niwat 88'

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Vaz (India)

2 March 1977

Singapore	2–2	Hong Kong
Quah Kim Song 37' Dollah Kassim 70'		Wun Chee Keung 19', 51'

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Harries (New Zealand)

3 March 1977

Indonesia	0–0	Malaysia

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Asami (Japan)

5 March 1977

Hong Kong	2–1	Thailand
Kwok Ka Ming 49' Chung Chor Wai 81'		Witthaya 55'

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Kim Joo-Won (Korea Republic)

6 March 1977

Singapore	1–0	Malaysia
Mohammad Noh Hussein 31' (pen)

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Asami (Japan)

7 March 1977

Thailand	3–2	Indonesia
Cherdsak 27' Jesdaporn 30' (pen.) Niwat 36'		Risdianto 44' Junaedi Abdillah 70'

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Alex Vaz (India)

8 March 1977

Malaysia	1–1	Hong Kong
Bakri Ibni 78'		Fung Chi Ming 15'

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Harries (New Zealand)

9 March 1977

Singapore	0–4	Indonesia
		Ronny Pattinasarany 4' Anjas Asmara 13' Andi Lala 26' Iswadi Idris 48'

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Kim Joo-Won (Korea Republic)

Play-off

Hong Kong and Singapore finished in the top two places, and a play-off was played to decide who would advance to the Final Round.

12 March 1977

Singapore	0–1	Hong Kong
		Lau Wing Yip 33'

National Stadium, Singapore

Referee: Boskovic (Australia)

Hong Kong advanced to the Final Round.

Group 2

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	South Korea	4	2	2	0	4	1	+3	6	Advance to Final round
2	Israel	4	2	1	1	5	3	+2	5
3	Japan	4	0	1	3	0	5	−5	1
4	North Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Withdrew

27 February 1977

Israel	0–0	South Korea

Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan

Referee: McGinlay (Scotland)

6 March 1977

Israel	2–0	Japan
Machnes 43' Bar 57'

Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan

Referee: Kitabdjian (France)

10 March 1977

Japan	0–2	Israel
		Machnes 41' Peretz 54'

Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, (Israel)^[2]

Referee: Verbeke (France)

20 March 1977

South Korea	3–1	Israel
Cha Bum-Kun 23' Park Sang-In 86' Choi Jong-Duk 88'		Malmilian 76'

Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul

26 March 1977

Japan	0–0	South Korea

National Stadium, Tokyo

Referee: Kathiravalc (Malaysia)

3 April 1977

South Korea	1–0	Japan
Cha Bum-Kun 84' (pen.)

Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul

Referee: Zainal Abidin (Malaysia)

Korea Republic advanced to the Final Round. North Korea withdrew prior to the tournament in protest of Israel's participation.^[3]

Group 3

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Iran	4	4	0	0	8	0	+8	8	Advance to Final round
2	Saudi Arabia	4	1	0	3	3	7	−4	2
3	Syria	4	1	0	3	2	6	−4	2
4	Iraq	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Withdrew

12 November 1976

Saudi Arabia	2–0	Syria
Al Fahad 22' Bo Saeed 54'

Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

Referee: Dörflinger (Switzerland)

26 November 1976

Syria	2–1	Saudi Arabia
Al Katbi 36' Khouri 82'		Ghani 44'

Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus

Referee: Babacan (Turkey)

7 January 1977

Saudi Arabia	0–3	Iran
		Mazloumi 16', 78' Roshan 62'

Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz, Riyadh

Referee: Linemayr (Austria)

28 January 1977

Syria	0–1	Iran
	(Report)	Parvin 36'

Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus

Attendance: 22,000

Referee: Robert Fratz (France)

6 April 1977

Iran	2 – 0 (w/o)	Syria
		Forfeited

Tajgozari Stadium, Shiraz

22 April 1977

Iran	2–0	Saudi Arabia
Yousefi 10' Sharifi 84'

Tajgozari Stadium, Shiraz

Referee: Dörflinger (Switzerland)

Iran advanced to the Final Round.

Group 4

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Kuwait	4	4	0	0	10	2	+8	8	Advance to Final round
2	Bahrain	4	1	0	3	4	6	−2	2
3	Qatar	4	1	0	3	3	9	−6	2
4	United Arab Emirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Withdrew

11 March 1977

Bahrain	0–2	Kuwait
		Kameel 5' Yaqoub 21'

Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, (Qatar)

Referee: Partridge (England)

13 March 1977

Qatar	2–0	Bahrain
Muftah 40' Al Suwaidi 62'

Khalifa International Stadium, Doha

Referee: Hungerbühler (Switzerland)

15 March 1977

Qatar	0–2	Kuwait
		Yaqoub 28' Al-Anberi 68'

Khalifa International Stadium, Doha

Referee: Ohmsen (West Germany)

17 March 1977

Bahrain	1–2	Kuwait
Shaqr 73'		Al-Anberi 33' Al Duraihem 56' (pen.)

Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, (Qatar)

Referee: Riccardo Lattanzi (Italy)

19 March 1977

Qatar	0–3	Bahrain
		Shaqr 32' Zowayed 57' Al Farhan 73' (pen.)

Khalifa International Stadium, Doha

Referee: Partridge (England)

21 March 1977

Qatar	1–4	Kuwait
Abubakr 82' (pen.)		Yaqoub 10' Ma'yoof 16' Al Saleh 24' Bo Hamad 60'

Khalifa International Stadium, Doha

Referee: Riccardo Lattanzi (Italy)

Kuwait advanced to the Final Round.

Group 5

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia	4	3	1	0	9	3	+6	7	Advance to Final round
2	New Zealand	4	2	1	1	14	4	+10	5
3	Taiwan	4	0	0	4	1	17	−16	0

13 March 1977

Australia	3–0	Taiwan
Rooney 8', 46' Abonyi 16'

Govind Park, Ba, (Fiji)^[4]

Referee: Promakash (Thailand)

16 March 1977

Taiwan	1–2	Australia
Chang Kuo Chi 29'		Kosmina 35' Abonyi 58'

Govind Park, Ba, (Fiji)^[5]

Referee: Getkaew (Thailand)

20 March 1977

New Zealand	6–0	Taiwan
Nelson 4', 6', 60' Campbell 16' Taylor 42' Weymouth 74'

Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland

Referee: Suppiah (Singapore)

23 March 1977

Taiwan	0–6	New Zealand
		Nelson 10', 74' Sumner 15', 51', 55' Lo Chih Tsong 71' (o.g.)

Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, (New Zealand)^[6]

Referee: Dhillon (Singapore)

27 March 1977

Australia	3–1	New Zealand
Ollerton 60', 80' Kosmina 72'		Nelson 4'

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Referee: Chan Tam Sun (Hong Kong)

30 March 1977

New Zealand	1–1	Australia
Nelson 34'		Ollerton 18'

Newmarket Ground, Auckland

Referee: Cheung Kwok Kui (Hong Kong)

Australia advanced to the Final Round.

Final round

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Iran	8	6	2	0	12	3	+9	14	Qualification for 1978 FIFA World Cup		—	2–2	1–0	1–0	3–0
2	South Korea	8	3	4	1	12	8	+4	10			0–0	—	1–0	0–0	5–2
3	Kuwait	8	4	1	3	13	8	+5	9			1–2	2–2	—	1–0	4–0
4	Australia	8	3	1	4	11	8	+3	7			0–1	2–1	1–2	—	3–0
5	Hong Kong	8	0	0	8	5	26	−21	0			0–2	0–1	1–3	2–5	—

19 June 1977

Hong Kong	0–2	Iran
		Kazerani 22' Jahani 77'

Government Stadium, Hong Kong

Referee: Gussoni, (Italy)

26 June 1977

Hong Kong	0–1	South Korea
		Cha Bum-Kun 81'

Government Stadium, Hong Kong

Referee: Biwersi (West Germany)

3 July 1977

South Korea	0–0	Iran

Busan Gudeok Stadium, Busan

Referee: Fute (Scotland)

10 July 1977

Australia	3–0	Hong Kong
Kosmina 28', 84' Barnes 46'

Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

Referee: Hungerbühler (Switzerland)

14 August 1977

Australia	0–1	Iran
		Roshan 70'

Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

Referee: Wöhrer (Austria)

27 August 1977

Australia	2–1	South Korea
Kosmina 63', 75'		Cha Bum-Kun 23'

Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney

Referee: Keizer (Netherlands)

2 October 1977

Hong Kong	1–3	Kuwait
Chung Chor Wai 9'		Al-Dakhil 35' Yaqoub 52' Bo Hamad 72'

Government Stadium, Hong Kong

Referee: Martinez (Spain)

9 October 1977

South Korea	1–0	Kuwait
Park Sang-In 59'

Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul

Referee: Ciacci (Italy)

16 October 1977

Australia	1–2	Kuwait
Rooney 83'		Kameel 42' Al-Anberi 49'

Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney

Referee: Vautrot (France)

23 October 1977

South Korea	0–0	Australia

Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul

Referee: Eriksson (Sweden)

28 October 1977

Iran	1–0	Kuwait
Jahani 48'

Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran

Referee: Thomas (Wales)

30 October 1977

Hong Kong	2–5	Australia
Tang Hung Cheong 65' Chung Chor Wai 80'		Ollerton 19', 31', 65' Abonyi 39' (pen.) Bennett 85'

Government Stadium, Hong Kong

Referee: Ponnet (Belgium)

5 November 1977

Kuwait	2–2	South Korea
Al-Dakhil 47' Bo Abbas 76'		Cha Bum-Kun 18' Choi Jong-Duk 82'

Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City

Referee: Dubach (Switzerland)

11 November 1977

Iran	2–2	South Korea
Roshan 52', 68'		Lee Young-Moo 28', 88'

Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran

Referee: Partridge (England)

12 November 1977

Kuwait	4–0	Hong Kong
Al-Dakhil 3', 17' Al-Anberi 45' Kameel 80'

Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City

Referee: Victor (Luxembourg)

18 November 1977

Iran	3–0	Hong Kong
Jahani 3', 35' Kazerani 19'

Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran

Referee: Raus (Yugoslavia)

19 November 1977

Kuwait	1–0	Australia
Al-Dakhil 52'

Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City

Referee: Bucek (Austria)

25 November 1977

Iran	1–0	Australia
Jahani 44'

Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran

Referee: Kitabdjian (France)

3 December 1977

Kuwait	1–2	Iran
Al-Dakhil 14'		Fariba 48' Khabiri 59'

Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City

Referee: Malcolm Hall Wright (Northern Ireland)

4 December 1977

South Korea	5–2	Hong Kong
Kim Ho-Kon 22' Huh Jung-Moo 43' Kim Jae-Han 76', 81' Park Sang-in 89'		Kwok Ka Ming 49' Chan Fat Chi 79'

Busan Gudeok Stadium, Busan

Referee: Heinz Aldinger (West Germany)

Iran qualified.

Qualified teams

The following team from AFC qualified for the final tournament.

Team	Qualified as	Qualified on	Previous appearances in FIFA World Cup1
Iran	Final Round winners	25 November 1977	0 (debut)

¹ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Goalscorers

7 goals

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal