The 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup will be an under-23 international football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation, will take place in Saudi Arabia between 6 to 27 January 2026. [1] [2] The sixteen national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 23 players, including at least three goalkeepers (Regulations Article 26.3). Only players in these squads were eligible to take part in the competition. The tournament exclusively requires players to be born on or after 1 January 2003 to be eligible (Regulations Article 22.1.3).[ citation needed ]
Each national team had to register a preliminary list of minimum of 18 and maximum of 50 players (including at least four goalkeepers) via the Asian Football Confederation Administration System (AFCAS) no later than 30 days before to its first match of the tournament. Teams were able to replace or add up to 5 players to their preliminary list no later than 7 days before to its first match of the tournament provided that the maximum number of registered players is not exceeded (Regulations Article 25). The final list of 18−23 players per national team had to be submitted to the AFC at least 10 days prior to its first match of the tournament. All players in the final selection must had been registered in the preliminary list (Regulations Article 26.3.1).
Once the final lists had been received by the AFC, teams may had replaced any player up to 6 hours prior to their first match of the tournament. Any replacement player should come from the preliminary list (Regulations Article 26.4).
The age listed for each player is as of 6 January 2026, the first day of the tournament. Players in bold have been capped at full international level.
Head coach: 
Luigi Di Biagio
Vietnam announced their 25-men preliminary squad in 22 November 2025. [3]
Head coach: 
Kim Sang-sik
Jordan announced their final squad on 23 December 2025. [4]
Head coach: Omar Najhi 
Head coach: 
Maksim Lisitsyn
Head coach: 
Go Oiwa
Head coach: 
Ilídio Vale
Head coach: 
Marcelo Broli
Head coach: Jehad Al-Hussain
Head coach: Ravshan Khaydarov
South Korea announced their final squad on 21 December 2025. [5]
Head coach: Lee Min-sung
Head coach: Omid Ravankhah
Head coach: Jamal Taha
Head coach: 
Emad Mohammed
Head coach: 
Tony Vidmar
Head coach: 
Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul
China announced their preliminary squad on 4 December 2025. [6]
Head coach: 
Antonio Puche
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Huo Shenping | 26 November 2003 (aged 22) |  Zhejiang FC | |||
| GK | Li Hao | 6 March 2004 (aged 21) | Qingdao West Coast | |||
| GK | Luan Yi | 16 August 2005 (aged 20) | Shijiazhuang Gongfu | |||
| GK | Yao Haoyang | 28 October 2006 (aged 19) | Chongqing Tongliang Long | |||
| DF | Alex Yang | 13 June 2005 (aged 20) | Qingdao West Coast | |||
| DF | Umidjan Yusup | 28 February 2004 (aged 21) | Shanghai Port | |||
| DF | Liu Haofan | 23 October 2003 (aged 22) | Zhejiang FC | |||
| DF | Bao Shimeng | 2 July 2003 (aged 22) | Suzhou Dongwu | |||
| DF | Hu Hetao | 5 October 2003 (aged 22) | Chengdu Rongcheng | |||
| DF | Zhang Aihui | 27 May 2005 (aged 20) | Zhejiang FC | |||
| DF | He Yiran | 27 February 2005 (aged 20) | Changchun Yatai | |||
| DF | Peng Xiao | 28 July 2005 (aged 20) | Shandong Taishan | |||
| DF | Wu Qipeng | 28 February 2007 (aged 18) | Shanghai Shenhua | |||
| DF | Zhang Yixuan | 18 August 2004 (aged 21) | Qingdao Red Lions | |||
| MF | Wang Bohao | 18 July 2005 (aged 20) |  FC Den Bosch | |||
| MF | Xu Bin | 2 May 2004 (aged 21) | Qingdao West Coast | |||
| MF | Mutellip Iminqari | 2 May 2004 (aged 21) | Qingdao West Coast | |||
| MF | Kuai Jiwen | 28 February 2006 (aged 19) | Shanghai Port | |||
| MF | Yang Haoyu | 25 May 2006 (aged 19) | Shanghai Shenhua | |||
| MF | Li Zhenquan | 16 December 2003 (aged 22) | Chongqing Tongliang Long | |||
| MF | Bao Shengxin | 1 August 2003 (aged 22) | Zhejiang FC | |||
| MF | Mao Weijie | 25 May 2005 (aged 20) | Dalian Yingbo | |||
| MF | Chen Zeshi | 21 February 2005 (aged 20) | Shandong Taishan | |||
| MF | Imran Memet | 3 May 2005 (aged 20) | Shandong Taishan | |||
| MF | Li Xinxiang | 30 November 2005 (aged 20) | Shanghai Port | |||
| MF | Wang Yudong | 23 November 2006 (aged 19) | Zhejiang FC | |||
| FW | Xiang Yuwang | 18 December 2003 (aged 22) | Chongqing Tongliang Long | |||
| FW | Behram Abduweli | 8 March 2003 (aged 22) | Shenzhen Peng City | |||
| FW | Zhu Pengyu | 9 May 2005 (aged 20) | Dalian Yingbo | |||
