From June 8 to 14, 2022, the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying for 2023 will be held in six centralised venues. The dates were originally slated for March 30 to March 29, 2021, however the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had to change them many times due to second-round match postponements across Asia because to the COVID-19 outbreak.
A total of 24 teams fight in the third round for the final 11 berths in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup (22 teams advanced from the second round and two teams advanced from the play-off round).
Former hosts China advanced to the third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifications, hence the automatic slot for the hosts was no longer required.
The 24 teams were divided into six groups of four, each of which played one round-robin match at one of six central venues.
The winners of each group, as well as the best five runners-up, progressed to the Asian Cup, where they were joined by China and the 12 teams which moved directly from the second round.
India, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan are the six countries that will host the third round on February 17, 2022, according to the AFC.