2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup

Last updated

2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup
كأس آسيا تحت 23 سنة 2026
Tournament details
Host countrySaudi Arabia
Dates7–25 January
Teams16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)45 (in 58 host cities)
← 2024
2028 →
All statistics correct as of 19 June 2025.

The 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup will be the 7th edition of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup (previously the AFC U-23 Championship before rebranding from 2021. [1] ), the biennial international age-restricted football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-23 national teams of Asia. The tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia between 7 and 25 January. [2]

Contents

Japan are the defending champions.

Host selection

In July 2023, the AFC Competitions Committee announced that each non-Olympic edition of the tournament would be hosted by the same association hosting the next AFC Asian Cup. [3] So Saudi Arabia will be hosting this edition as well.

Qualification

Qualification status .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Teams qualified To be decided Teams failed to qualify Did not enter/Withdrew/Excluded Not an AFC member 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification map.svg
Qualification status
  Teams qualified
  To be decided
  Teams failed to qualify
  Did not enter/Withdrew/Excluded
  Not an AFC member

Qualification matches are scheduled to be played between 3 and 9 September 2025. [2] [4]

Qualified teams

TeamMethod of qualificationDate of qualificationAppearanceFirst appearanceLast appearancePrevious best performance
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Hosts1 July 20237th 2013 2024 Champions (2022)
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan Group A winners2 August 20238th 2013 2024 -
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Group B winners3 September 20238th 2013 2024 Semi Final (2022)
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Group C winners5 September 20238th 2013 2024 Runners-up (2018)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Group D winners19 September 20238th 2013 2024 Semi Final (2022)
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan Group E winners28 September 20238th 2013 2024 Champions (2018)
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Group F winners1 October 20238th 2013 2024 -
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Group G winners9 October 20238th 2013 2024 Champions (2013)
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar Group H winners18 October 20238th 2013 2024 Semi Final (2018)
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran Group I winners25 October 20238th 2013 2024 -
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Group J winners17 November 20238th 2013 2024 Champions (2020)
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria Group K winners19 December 20234th 2013 2020 -
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 1st best runners-up21 November 20231st--Debut
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 2nd best runners-up22 December 20232nd 2024 -Semi Final (2024)
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 3rd best runners-up23 December 20233rd 2022 2024 -
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 4th best runners-up21 Janauary 20244th 2013 2024 -

Venues

To be confirmed.

Group stage

All times are local, AST (UTC+3). of Draw 27 November 2025

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia (H)00000000Advance to knockout stage
2A200000000
3A300000000
4A400000000
First match(es) will be played: 7 January 2026. Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1B100000000Advance to knockout stage
2B200000000
3B300000000
4B400000000
First match(es) will be played: 8 January 2026. Source: AFC

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1C100000000Advance to knockout stage
2C200000000
3C300000000
4C400000000
First match(es) will be played: 8 January 2026. Source: AFC

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1D100000000Advance to knockout stage
2D200000000
3D300000000
4D400000000
First match(es) will be played: 9 January 2026. Source: AFC

Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary.

Bracket

 
 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
 
          
 
 January –
 
 
A1
 
 January –
 
 B2
 
 Winner Quarter-final 1
 
 January –
 
 Winner Quarter-final 2
 
 C1
 
25 January –
 
 D2
 
 Winner Semi-final 1
 
 January –
 
 Winner Semi-final 2
 
 B1
 
 January –
 
 A2
 
 Winner Quarter-final 3
 
 January –
 
 Winner Quarter-final 4 Third place play-off
 
 D1
 
24 January –
 
 C2
 
 Loser Semi-final 1
 
 
 Loser Semi-final 2
 

Quarter-finals

Winner Group AQF1Runner-up Group B
Winner Group BQF2Runner-up Group A
Winner Group DQF3Runner-up Group C
Winner Group CQF4Runner-up Group D

Semi-finals

Winner Quarter-final 1vWinner Quarter-final 2
Winner Quarter-final 3vWinner Quarter-final 4

Third place play-off

Loser Semi-final 1vLoser Semi-final 2

Final

Winner Semi-final 1vWinner Semi-final 2

References

  1. ↑ "AFC rebrands age group championships to AFC Asian Cups". AFC. 2 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2025 - Jun 2026)" (PDF). AFC.
  3. ↑ "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions". Asian Football Confederation. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  4. ↑ "Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers groups finalised". Asian Football Confederation. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
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