AFC proposes major reforms to revamp youth football competitions across Asia
AFC have made reforms in U17 Asian Cup qualifiers format and the U20 Asian Cup qualifiers format.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has moved to give youth football across Asia a fresh push by recommending a set of important reforms to its age-group competitions. The proposed changes are designed to make tournaments more competitive, offer clearer development pathways, and provide emerging nations with more meaningful match exposure.
With a renewed focus on restructuring the AFC U-17 and U-20 Asian Cups, the recommendations could play a key role in shaping the future of youth football on the continent.
AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers format
1. Regional qualifiers instead of one central system
From the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2028 cycle, the Asian Football Confederation will move to a regional qualification system, with each of its Regional Associations (RAs) tasked with organising their own qualifying competitions.
This marks a shift away from a centralised qualification format, allowing teams to earn their place in the finals through regional tournaments that better reflect local competition levels.
2. New and transparent slot allocation system
Following a detailed review of recent AFC U-17 Asian Cups and the former AFC U-16 Championships, which showed steady growth in performance levels, the Committee approved a transparent and balanced slot allocation model. The 16 available places at the Finals will be split evenly between the East and West regions, each receiving 50 percent of the slots based on historical performances.
The exact allocation sees ASEAN and East Asia receiving 4 slots each, while West Asia also gets 4 places. Central Asia has been awarded 3 slots, with South Asia receiving 1 slot.
3. Hosts to qualify without extra slots
Under the new proposal, the host nation of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup will qualify automatically for the Finals. However, this automatic qualification will count as part of the host’s regional allocation, meaning no additional slots will be created for any zone. The move ensures fairness while maintaining competitive balance across regions.
4. Fixed windows for qualifiers to streamline the calendar
To make scheduling smoother and avoid clashes with other competitions, the AFC has set two specific windows for regional associations to hold their qualifiers. If the Finals are planned for the first half of the year, qualifiers should take place between January and February.
If the finals are scheduled for later in the year, qualifiers can be held between July and October. This way, teams have clear timelines, organisers can plan efficiently, and players can focus on development without overlapping tournaments.
AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers format
1. Two-Phase qualification system introduced
From the 2027 cycle onwards, the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers will move to a two-phase format featuring a promotion and relegation mechanism like a league system. The revised system is designed to ensure teams regularly face opponents of similar technical ability, while also creating a clear pathway for progress based on performance.
2. Qualification phase to maintain competitive standards
The Qualification Phase will consist of 32 teams, divided into 8 groups of 4. The 8 group winners, along with the 7 best second-placed teams, will advance to the finals. To maintain highly competitive standards, the lowest-ranked teams in this phase will be relegated to the Development Phase for the subsequent edition, ensuring that every match carries importance.
3. Development phase focused on growth and opportunity
The Development Phase will accommodate up to 14 teams across 3 groups, with a strong emphasis on technical improvement and tournament exposure. Top-performing teams in this phase will earn promotion to the Qualification Phase in the next cycle, providing clear motivation and a structured route for upward movement.
For the first edition in 2027, current draw seedings will serve as the baseline, with future seedings determined by promotion and relegation outcomes. The existing single-round match format and hosting conditions will remain unchanged, while the Finals host nation will continue to receive automatic qualification.
How will the slots for the U-17 Finals distributed?
The 16 slots are split equally between East (East Asia + ASEAN) and West (Central, South, West) regions. Specifically: ASEAN – 4, East – 4, Central – 3, South – 1, West – 4.
Will hosting the Finals give a region extra slot?
No. The host nation automatically qualifies, but this counts as part of its region’s allocation. No additional slots are given.
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Ayushman Sharma is a sports enthusiast with a deep love for football, following the game closely since 2018. A hardcore supporter of NorthEast United FC and FC Barcelona, he has also gained valuable on-ground experience by volunteering during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Guwahati.