Which nations have qualified for AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026?

India finished as runners-up in Group H, behind Qatar.

The race to qualify for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 is over, and we have found 16 teams who will fight for supremacy in Asia at this level. Teams have secured their place in the tournament after an intense qualifying round. Among the 16 teams, some have qualified for the first time, and some have made sure their presence is felt on the continental stage yet again.

The best talents in Asia will be showcasing their potential, making the tournament a spectacle to watch. The AFC U23 Asian Cup is scheduled to be held in January next year, in Saudi Arabia. This tournament would be a true reflection of the trajectory of different countries, allowing them to establish their credentials.

India U23 team narrowly missed out on the spot for the AFC U23 Asian Cup after coming agonizingly close!They finished fifth in the table of the best second-ranked teams, just below the UAE, who edged past on a better goal difference!#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/Hv7HKUPl1r

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 10, 2025

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

1. Saudi Arabia (Hosts)

In the run-up to the 2034 FIFA World Cup, this is the first global tournament that Saudi Arabia will be hosting. Courtesy of the hosting rights, Saudi Arabia directly qualified for the tournament without playing the qualifiers. The winners of the 2022 edition would be desperate to clinch the trophy again, and this time in front of their home crowd.

2. Jordan (Group A winners)

The winners of Group A, Jordan, qualified for the tournament in a comprehensive fashion. They won all their matches against teams like Turkmenistan, Bhutan, and Chinese Taipei. With 9 points in three games, they finished as uncontested winners of Group A.

Also Read: Seven India U23 stars who merit a spot in senior team camp for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in October

3. Japan (Group B winners)

The defending AFC U23 Asian Cup champions were always the front-runners to qualify from their group. The only team that could challenge them were Myanmar, against whom Japan won with a 2-1 scoreline. Apart from this, all their matches were one-sided, a clear indication that they are again ready to fight for the title.

4. Vietnam (Group C winners)

The runners-up of the 2018 edition have emerged as the toppers in Group C. The other teams in Group C could not seriously check Vietnam’s advances. The only time Vietnam looked jittery was in their last match against Yemen. However, that match also ended in a narrow 1-0 victory, securing their top spot with 9 points.

5. Australia (Group D winners)

The Australians romped through in the first two matches against Northern Mariana Islands and Timor-Leste. But they faced a roadblock against China in the last qualifying fixture. The match ended in a stalemate, but it could not affect Australia’s qualification chances as seven points proved to be enough.

6. China (Group D runners-up)

The runners-up in group D, China, have also confirmed their spot in the AFC U23 Asian Cup. They had a similar record to the group toppers, Australia. China finished with 7 points, putting them among the four best second-placed teams, which secured their qualification.

7. Kyrgyzstan (Group E winners)

This is one of the major breakthroughs of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers. In a historic achievement, Kyrgyzstan have qualified for the AFC U23 Asian Cup for the first time. This will be their maiden appearance in the tournament. It could become a reality after Kyrgyzstan sealed the top spot in Group E with 9 points, over Uzbekistan, Palestine, and Sri Lanka.

8. Uzbekistan (Group E runners-up)

Group E was the second group that saw two teams qualify for the AFC U23 Asian Cup. Finishing tied with Kyrgyzstan on 7 points, Uzbekistan found themselves comfortable among the top four second-placed teams. The Uzbeks were just behind China among the four best second-placed teams. Goal difference was the distinguishing factor.

9. Thailand (Group F winners)

The quarter-finalists from the last edition have secured their place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup again. They had to fight hard for the top spot but ultimately managed to claim it. Thailand had 7 points, the same as Lebanon, but a superior positive goal difference did the job for them.

10. Lebanon (Group F runners-up)

To confirm their spot in the AFC U23 Asian Cup, Lebanon had to win against Mongolia in the last qualifying fixture. They managed to thrash Mongolia 3-0 to achieve a result that confirmed their first-ever qualification to the AFC U23 Asian Cup. It is a groundbreaking milestone for a country that is consistently moving on the path of gradual progress.

11. Iraq (Group G winners)

The former AFC U23 Asian Cup champions will be making their seventh appearance in the competition, which is an astonishing number. In the three matches that Iraq played in the qualifiers, they won two and drew one. 7 points, two more than the second-place Cambodia, allowed a safe passage to the continental tournament for Iraq.

12. Qatar (Group H winners)

The hosts of Group H, Qatar, have also qualified for the tournament. It was a bumpy ride for them in the qualifiers, which saw some controversial calls going in their favour and a late winner against Bahrain to take them to the AFC U23 Asian Cup.

13. Iran (Group I winners)

The Asian heavyweight did not have to face many obstacles in their path to qualification. An unblemished record of 9 points in the qualifying round reflects the dominance they exert. Iran won all three matches to collect 9 points from the campaign, which ended on a victorious note against the UAE.

14. United Arab Emirates (Group I runners-up)

Just behind Iran in Group I were the United Arab Emirates, who finished with 6 points. Their margin of qualification is the smallest as they secured their qualification on goal difference. The team that finished fifth among second-placed teams, India, had a positive goal difference of seven as compared to the UAE’s fourteen, which gave the West Asian side an edge.

15. South Korea (Group J winners)

The qualification for the AFC U23 Asian Cup was never in doubt for the 2020 AFC U23 Asian Cup champions. The South Koreans aced the qualifying round with three consecutive victories and 9 points in their bag. It was one of the most uncontested groups that had a clear winner.

16. Syria (Group K winners)

Syria had to toil hard for the spot in the main tournament. They managed to win by narrow margins. A 1-0 win over Tajikistan and a 2-1 victory over Philippines made the qualification possible for Syria. They would hope to breach the quarter-final mark in what would be their fifth appearance in the tournament.

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