When and where to watch AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Draw in India?

With 9 teams already qualified for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026, the remaining slots will be contested by 38 teams.

The AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers draw will be held on August 7, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur. 38 countries will take part in the qualifiers trying their best to make their way into the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup. The tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia from August 9 to 23 next year.

This will be the second consecutive time Saudi Arabia will be hosting the tournament. They hosted the tournament this year as well, from 3-20 April. The host finished as runner-up after conceding the title to Uzbekistan in the final.

Also Read: Ahmedabad to host AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in November

38 teams in 6 pots in AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers

38 countries from across the continent have been placed in 6 pots in the FC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers draw according to a points system that was derived from their final rankings across the last editions of the main tournament.

Pot 1 has teams like Thailand, China, Vietnam, Australia, Yemen, Oman, and Iran. The Indian team is in the second pot alongside Afghanistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Iraq, Laos, and Kuwait. Pot 3 consists of Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Bahrain, Philippines, Turkmenistan, and Palestine.

Pot 4 boasts of Jordan, Syria, Mongolia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Brunei. The fifth pot has Nepal, Bhutan, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Maldives, Timor-Leste, and Lebanon. Pot 6 only has 3 teams in Macau, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

While India are in Pot 2, they will be placed in an additional Hosts Pot for the purpose of the draw to ensure all hosts are drawn in separate groups. China PR, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Kyrgyz Republic, and Jordan are the other six hosts that cannot be drawn into India’s group.

• Pot 1: Thailand, China, Vietnam, Australia, Yemen, Oman, Iran
• Pot 2: India, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Iraq, Laos, and Kuwait
• Pot 3: Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Bahrain, Philippines, Turkmenistan, Palestine
• Pot 4: Jordan, Syria, Mongolia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Brunei
• Pot 5: Nepal, Bhutan, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Maldives, Timor-Leste, Lebanon
• Pot 6: Macau, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
• Hosts Pot: China PR, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Myanmar, Kyrgyz Republic, Jordan.

2026 FIFA U17 World Cup spots up for grabs

The 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup has eight spots on offer for the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar. Some of the best teams in Asia would battle hard in the qualifiers to make it to the main tournament, as that will provide an opportunity of a lifetime to qualify for the U17 World Cup.

When and where to watch AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers draw?

The draw will be live-streamed on the AFC Asian Cup YouTube channel from 13:30 IST on August 7. Eyes will be on the Indian team, which is placed in Pot 2. The indian side would be waiting to know their opponents with bated breath.

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