2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification

Last updated
2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification
Tournament details
Host countriesFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (Group A)
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan (Group B)
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam (Group C)
Flag of India.svg  India (Group D)
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan (Group E)
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand (Group F)
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar (Group G)
Dates22–30 November 2025 [1]
Teams38 (from 1 confederation)
2025
2027

The 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification will be an international men's under-17 football competition which will be held to decide the participating teams of the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup. [1]

Contents

Draw

Of the 47 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) member associations, a total of 38 teams entered the competition. The other nine teams including the hosts Saudi Arabia who qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup automatically qualify for the final tournament. [2]

The draw was held on 7 August 2025 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at 16:00 local time (UTC+8).

The 38 teams were allocated to three groups of six teams and four groups of five teams, with teams seeded based on a points system derived from their final rankings across the previous three editions of the Finals (overall ranking shown in parentheses). A further restriction was also applied, with the seven teams serving as qualification group hosts drawn into separate groups. [3]

Bye to the final tournament
  1. Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan
  2. Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia (final tournament hosts)
  3. Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
  4. Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
  5. Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
  6. Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan
  7. Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
  8. Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
  9. Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar (world cup hosts)
Teams entering the qualification
Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4Pot 5Pot 6
Host teams
  1. Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand (H)
  2. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (H)
  3. Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam (H)
  1. Flag of India.svg  India (H)
  1. Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar (H)
  2. Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan (H)
  1. Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan (H)
Remaining teams
  1. Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
  2. Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
  3. Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
  4. Flag of Oman.svg  Oman
Notes

Groups

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (H)00000000 Final tournament
2Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 00000000
3Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 00000000
4Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 00000000
5Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste 00000000
6Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 22 November 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Bahrain  Flag of Bahrain.svgvFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Brunei  Flag of Brunei.svgvFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svgvFlag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste

China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svgvFlag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste
Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svgvFlag of Brunei.svg  Brunei
Bahrain  Flag of Bahrain.svgvFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka

Timor-Leste  Flag of East Timor.svgvFlag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain
Sri Lanka  Flag of Sri Lanka.svgvFlag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh
China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svgvFlag of Brunei.svg  Brunei

Brunei  Flag of Brunei.svgvFlag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste
Sri Lanka  Flag of Sri Lanka.svgvFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svgvFlag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain

Timor-Leste  Flag of East Timor.svgvFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
Bahrain  Flag of Bahrain.svgvFlag of Brunei.svg  Brunei
China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svgvFlag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 00000000 Final tournament
2Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 00000000
3Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan (H)00000000
4Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 00000000
5Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 00000000
6Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 22 November 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Kyrgyzstan  Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svgvFlag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
Cambodia  Flag of Cambodia.svgvFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Laos  Flag of Laos.svgvFlag of Guam.svg  Guam

Yemen  Flag of Yemen.svgvFlag of Guam.svg  Guam
Laos  Flag of Laos.svgvFlag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia
Kyrgyzstan  Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svgvFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan

Guam  Flag of Guam.svgvFlag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan
Pakistan  Flag of Pakistan.svgvFlag of Laos.svg  Laos
Yemen  Flag of Yemen.svgvFlag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia

Cambodia  Flag of Cambodia.svgvFlag of Guam.svg  Guam
Pakistan  Flag of Pakistan.svgvFlag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
Laos  Flag of Laos.svgvFlag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan

Guam  Flag of Guam.svgvFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Kyrgyzstan  Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svgvFlag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia
Yemen  Flag of Yemen.svgvFlag of Laos.svg  Laos

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam (H)00000000 Final tournament
2Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 00000000
3Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 00000000
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 00000000
5Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Mariana Islands 00000000
6Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 22 November 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Singapore  Flag of Singapore.svgvFlag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam
Hong Kong  Flag of Hong Kong.svgvFlag of Macau.svg  Macau

Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svgvFlag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Mariana Islands
Malaysia  Flag of Malaysia.svgvFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
Singapore  Flag of Singapore.svgvFlag of Macau.svg  Macau

Macau  Flag of Macau.svgvFlag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svgvFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong

Macau  Flag of Macau.svgvFlag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam
Malaysia  Flag of Malaysia.svgvFlag of Singapore.svg  Singapore

Northern Mariana Islands  Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svgvFlag of Macau.svg  Macau
Singapore  Flag of Singapore.svgvFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svgvFlag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 00000000 Final tournament
2Flag of India.svg  India (H)00000000
3Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 00000000
4Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei 00000000
5Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 22 November 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Palestine  Flag of Palestine.svgvFlag of India.svg  India
Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svgvFlag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei

Chinese Taipei  Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svgvFlag of Iran.svg  Iran
Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svgvFlag of Palestine.svg  Palestine

Iran  Flag of Iran.svgvFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
India  Flag of India.svgvFlag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei

India  Flag of India.svgvFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Palestine  Flag of Palestine.svgvFlag of Iran.svg  Iran

Chinese Taipei  Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svgvFlag of Palestine.svg  Palestine
Iran  Flag of Iran.svgvFlag of India.svg  India

Group E

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 00000000 Final tournament
2Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 00000000
3Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 00000000
4Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan (H)00000000
5Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 22 November 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Philippines  Flag of the Philippines.svgvFlag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Bhutan  Flag of Bhutan.svgvFlag of Jordan.svg  Jordan

Jordan  Flag of Jordan.svgvFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Bhutan  Flag of Bhutan.svgvFlag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svgvFlag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan
Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svgvFlag of Jordan.svg  Jordan

Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svgvFlag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan
Philippines  Flag of the Philippines.svgvFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

Jordan  Flag of Jordan.svgvFlag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svgvFlag of Iraq.svg  Iraq

Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand (H)00000000 Final tournament
2Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 00000000
3Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 00000000
4Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 00000000
5Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 22 November 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Turkmenistan  Flag of Turkmenistan.svgvFlag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
Maldives  Flag of Maldives.svgvFlag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia

Mongolia  Flag of Mongolia.svgvFlag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Maldives  Flag of Maldives.svgvFlag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan

Thailand  Flag of Thailand.svgvFlag of Maldives.svg  Maldives
Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svgvFlag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia

Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svgvFlag of Maldives.svg  Maldives
Turkmenistan  Flag of Turkmenistan.svgvFlag of Thailand.svg  Thailand

Mongolia  Flag of Mongolia.svgvFlag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
Thailand  Flag of Thailand.svgvFlag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait

Group G

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 00000000 Final tournament
2Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan 00000000
3Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar (H)00000000
4Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria 00000000
5Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 22 November 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Myanmar  Flag of Myanmar.svgvFlag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan
Nepal    Flag of Nepal.svgvFlag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria

Syria  Flag of Syria (2025-).svgvFlag of Oman.svg  Oman
Nepal    Flag of Nepal.svgvFlag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar

Oman  Flag of Oman.svgvFlag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Afghanistan  Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svgvFlag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria

Afghanistan  Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svgvFlag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Myanmar  Flag of Myanmar.svgvFlag of Oman.svg  Oman

Syria  Flag of Syria (2025-).svgvFlag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar
Oman  Flag of Oman.svgvFlag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan

Qualified teams

The following 16 teams qualified for the final tournament.

TeamQualified asAppearancePrevious best performance 1
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Hosts and 2025 runners-up13thChampions (1985, 1988)
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar World Cup Hosts12thChampions (1990)
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 2025 champions12thChampions (2012, 2025)
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 2025 semi-finalist17thChampions (1986, 2002)
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 2025 semi-finalist13thChampions (2010, 2014)
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2025 quarter-finalist18thChampions (1994, 2006, 2018, 2023)
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 2025 quarter-finalist6thRunners-up (2018)
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 2025 quarter-finalist9thRunners-up ( 1990 )
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 2025 quarter-finalist8thFourth place (1990)
TBD Group A winners
TBD Group B winners
TBD Group C winners
TBD Group D winners
TBD Group E winners
TBD Group F winners
TBD Group G winners
1Italic indicates hosts for that year.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2025 - Jun 2026)" (PDF). the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 4 August 2025.
  2. "Daftar 9 Tim Lolos Langsung ke Piala Asia U-17 2026". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  3. "#AFCU17 and #U17WAC hopefuls to discover Qualifiers journey". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.