A
total of 4.5 spots where
available for the 43 Asian
teams. The 38 lowest-ranked
teams played preliminary
rounds . Winners and Runners up
of group stage 1 qualified
for groupstage 2.(two groups
The two group winners and
runners up where directly
qualified, while the two
teams in the nr.3 spot met
in a play off to advance to
the final play off game
against
nr.5 in Oceania - See
also :
Asia qual. 2018