This study examined the influence of early joint attention and play in children with autism on child- and parent-reported friendship quality 5 years later. Initially, children participated in developmental, joint attention, and play measures. At follow-up (age 8-9), parents and children completed the Friendship Qualities Scale (Bukowski et al. in J Soc Personal Relatsh 11:471-484, 1994) rating the child's friendship on companionship, help, security, closeness, and conflict. Parents and children described their children's friendships similarly except children's ratings were significantly higher than their parents on companionship. Children with better joint attention at age three reported their friendships to have higher closeness and lower conflict. Children with better initial play reported greater helpfulness. This study provides preliminary evidence linking early core abilities to later friendship qualities.