Which teams have qualified for AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2026?

12 teams will take part in AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026, which will be hosted by Thailand.

Asia is set to witness the brightest young talents on the continent as the stage is set for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. This will be a massive occasion for players from across the continent, with the tournament undergoing expansion. For the first time ever, 12 teams will be taking part in the competition. The tournament will be hosted by Thailand next year, starting on April 1.

The amplified scale of the tournament will see a lot more eyeballs, augmenting the status of the competition. Until the last edition, 8 teams would take part in the competition. With the tournament expanding, a few other emerging countries will have an opportunity to compete with the best and show their class.

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Moving on, we shall delve into the list of teams that have qualified for the tournament. There are a lot of teams to watch out for, boasting some of the best talents. With some countries qualifying for the first time, the tournament will chart unexplored territories in terms of viewership, which is expected to skyrocket.

Also Read: India seal AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 spot for first time in 20 years

Teams qualified for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026

1. Thailand (Hosts)

Hosting the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup for the second time, Thailand qualified for the tournament automatically. 2019 was the first time the competition was held in Thailand, which saw Japan finishing as the champions for the third time in a row.

This will be the eighth appearance for the Thailand U20 Women’s team in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup. Interestingly, the last time they played the tournament was also courtesy of their hosting rights. Since then, Thailand have failed to seal their place in the competition. With the tournament back in Thailand, the host country would be determined to make their mark.

2. North Korea (Group A Winners)

One of the most consistent teams at this AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup, 2024 champions North Korea, have once again qualified for the tournament with relative ease. In the qualifiers, North Korea won all three of their games, thrashing Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, and Nepal on their way.

The two-time champions scored a whopping 36 goals in the qualifiers without conceding any. Looking at their current form, they will be strong contenders to lift the title for the third time.

3. Vietnam (Group B Winners)

The girls from Vietnam topped Group B, which consisted of teams like Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, and Singapore. There was simply no contest in the group as other teams proved to be no match for the 2004 quarter-finalists.

Vietnam had already sealed their qualification after the first two games against Singapore and Hong Kong. It was a done deal in Group B with Vietnam hammering Singapore 5-0 in their opener, followed by an astonishing 6-0 victory against Hong Kong. After a few disappointing editions, this will be a chance for Vietnam to redeem their pride at this stage.

4. Australia (Group C Winners)

Group C was dominated by Australia in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers. Running away with the first spot without any real contest, Australia comfortably made their way to the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup.

The Australians started their journey in the qualifiers with a jaw-dropping 14-0 victory against Tajikistan to move into the next fixture against Palestine, which followed a similar script as they registered a comprehensive win with a 3-0 scoreline. Capping off the qualifiers with another 3-0 win against Chinese Taipei, Australia ensured their participation in the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup.

5. India (Group D Winners)

One of the most fiercely fought groups was Group D. Indian U20 women’s team won the race to own the top spot in the group in their last qualifying fixture against the hosts, Myanmar, in Yangon. With both teams level at four points, the last match had high stakes as the pressure was on both teams.

For India, the bare minimum was to scrape a draw from the game, but Myanmar had to win to qualify for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. The Indians edged the hosts with a solitary goal in what was a cagey affair.

This also marks the return of India in the tournament after nearly two decades, with their last appearance coming in 2006. This is a gigantic step in the journey of progress for Indian Women’s football, and the fans would be having their fingers crossed, backing their girls to go deep in the tournament.

6. China (Group E Winners)

Another group that saw no competition with China emerging as the best team by a country mile, in Group E. Evident from the fact that group toppers China hammered Lebanon, who finished second, 8-0. China, the former champions, proved to be a notch above teams like Lebanon, Syria, and Cambodia.

In the last edition, China failed to cruise past the group stage, resulting in their elimination. The next edition will be particularly important for China as their wait for the title has stretched to almost twenty years.

7. Japan (Group F Winners)

There were no doubts in the first place that the most consistent team in the history of the competition would find their place in the tournament once again. Record 6-time champions Japan crushed any challenge that came their way in the qualifiers to finish as group toppers.

Scoring 32 goals in three games, Japan showed why they are the most feared team at this stage. Missing out on the title in the last edition by a goal was a big setback for Japan, and they would be desperate to settle the record next year.

8. Uzbekistan (Group G Winners)

Uzbekistan won the contest in Group G to qualify for the tournament for the sixth time. Group G was one of the three groups that saw two teams qualify for the main tournament. Uzbekistan finished with 7 points, tied with Jordan, but a superior goal difference sealed the top spot for them. Having never qualified for the knockouts, the next edition would be an opportunity for Uzbekistan to create history.

9. South Korea (Group H Winners)

The only stiff challenge South Korea faced in the qualifiers was when they came up against Laos in their second game. Edging Laos by a one-goal margin, South Korea brushed aside any doubts over their credentials. It has been a long wait for glory for South Korea, as they won their last title in 2013. Aiming to end this drought, South Korea would enter the next edition as one of the favorites. They will be determined to give their fans the same joy that they gave in 2004 and 2013.

10. Jordan (Best runners-up)

Jordan had one of the most enthralling qualifying campaigns. The Jordan fans must have been on the edge as their journey in the qualifiers was nothing less than a roller-coaster.

They confirmed the ticket in a dramatic fashion, by scoring a late equalizer against the formidable Uzbekistan in the last group stage game, on August 10, which also served as a decider. The enormity of the achievement can be judged by the fact that this is only the second time Jordan have qualified for the tournament.

11. Bangladesh (2nd Best runners-up)

The biggest highlight of the qualifiers were Bangladesh. Continuing the remarkable surge in Asian Football across all levels, Bangladesh added another feather to their cap by confirming their presence in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time ever. The South Asian side had a monumental task of qualifying for the main tournament from a group that had the likes of South Korea in it.

Facing South Korea was always going to be a Herculean challenge for Bangladesh, which warranted that they ace the other two fixtures against Laos and Timor-Leste.

Defeating Laos and Timor-Leste in a comprehensive fashion, Bangladesh were in a comfortable position going into their last group stage game against South Korea, which they lost 6-1. However, that did not dampen the mood as their qualification was inevitable, making the qualifiers a memorable campaign for them.

12. Chinese Taipei (3rd best runners-up)

The runners-up from the inaugural edition in 2002, Chinese Taipei, will complete the lineup for the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup. Finishing second in Group C, just behind Australia, Chinese Taipei put a stamp on their sixth appearance in the tournament.

Since the inaugural edition in 2002, things have not gone as planned for Chinese Taipei. With an impressive performance in the qualifiers, the team is expected to up the ante to improve their record as the tournament approaches.

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