Headlining the six two-legged ties drawn by the AFC is India's clash against Nepal, which sees coach Stephen Constantine face the nation he managed between 1999 and 2001. 

The draw has also pitted Yemen against Pakistan, Timor-Leste against Mongolia, Cambodia against Macau, Chinese Taipei against Brunei and Sri Lanka against Bhutan, the lowest-ranked FIFA member federation in 209th place.

The inclusion of Bhutan and Brunei, ranked 198th in the world and competing in a World Cup qualifying campaign for the first time since that for 2002, marks the first time that all 209 Member Associations of FIFA have registered to take part in World Cup qualifying.

The first legs are scheduled to take place on March 12, with the return games on March 17.

The 12 nations will be aiming to join the AFC's remaining 34 teams in the second round, which begins in June and consists of eight groups of five teams competing in a round-robin format.

The eight group winners and four best runners-up will progress to the final round of qualifying, split into two groups of six, and also secure an automatic place at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup as part of a new qualifying format. 

The AFC has yet to find out from FIFA how many places it has been granted at the World Cup, although it is expected there will be four with one other team advancing to an intercontinental play-off.

Iran, Japan, South Korea and Australia all qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but Jordan missed out after losing to Uruguay in the intercontinental tie. 

Japan were one of the four Asian nations to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil ©Getty Images




Great Britain's Constantine, who was re-appointed India's manager last month following a first stint in the job between 2002 and 2005, was awarded a medal by Nepal's late King, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, for the work he did with the national team.

"Nepal has a very special place in my heart, we had a good two years there," Constantine told FIFA.com.

"The recognition I received from his majesty and everybody else was unbelievable.

"But this is business.

"I'm going back to win a game."

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) region began the qualifying process last month, pairing teams for its first two preliminary rounds in March and June.