AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers group draws revealed

The AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers will be played between September 1-9.

The teams aspiring to vie for the title discovered their AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers opponents following the official draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday.

The 44 sides were drawn into 11 groups for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, which will be contested on September 1-9, 2025. The 11 group winners and four best-ranked runners-up will join Saudi Arabia, who are hosting the tournament for the first time, in January’s Finals.

Group A of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers will see Jordan (hosts), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei and Bhutan vying for the automatic ticket to the Finals, while two-time champions Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (hosts) and Afghanistan will square off in Group B.

Vietnam (hosts) lead the Group C cast with Yemen, Singapore and Bangladesh also hoping to advance, while Australia, China PR (hosts), Timor-Leste and Northern Mariana Islands will battle it out in Group D.

Group E saw 2018 winners Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (hosts) and Sri Lanka being drawn together while Thailand (hosts), Malaysia, Lebanon and Mongolia are in Group F.

Inaugural champions Iraq will fancy their chances in Group G, but Cambodia (hosts), Oman and Pakistan stand in their way, while Group H will see Qatar (hosts), Bahrain, India and Brunei Darussalam jostling for the coveted automatic spot to the Finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.

Group I is set for exciting battles with UAE (hosts), Islamic Republic of Iran, Hong Kong, China and Guam drawn together, Group J will see 2020 champions Korea Republic, Indonesia (hosts), Laos and Macau challenging each other while Group K features Tajikistan (hosts), Syria, Philippines and Nepal.

AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Draw Result

• Group A: Jordan (H), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan
• Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (H), Afghanistan
• Group C: Vietnam (H), Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh
• Group D: Australia, China PR (H), Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands
• Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Sri Lanka
• Group F: Thailand (H), Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia
• Group G: Iraq, Cambodia (H), Oman, Pakistan
• Group H: Qatar (H), Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam
• Group I: UAE (H), IR Iran, Hong Kong, China, Guam
• Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia (H), Laos, Macau
• Group K: Tajikistan (H), Syria, Philippines, Nepal

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