2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification

Last updated
2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
Tournament details
Host countriesJordan (Group A)
Thailand (Group B)
Myanmar (Group C)
Indonesia (Group D)
Vietnam (Group E)
Uzbekistan (Group F)
Cambodia (Group G)
Tajikistan (Group H)
Dates23 June – 5 July 2025 [1] [2]
7–19 July 2025 (Group A) [3]
Teams34 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)8 (in 8 host cities)
Tournament statistics
Matches played56
Goals scored267 (4.77 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Nepal.svg Sabitra Bhandari
Flag of North Korea.svg Kim Kyong-yong
(9 goals each)
2022
2029

The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification was the qualification tournament for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. [4]

Contents

The qualification tournament decided eight of the twelve participating teams in the final tournament to be held in Australia. [5] Along with the host nation, the top three teams in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup final tournament also secured automatic qualification: China, South Korea and Japan. [6] A total of 34 teams submitted entries to participate in the qualifiers.

This tournament served as the first stage of Asian qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2028 Olympic football tournament.

The teams were divided into eight groups, with group winners qualifying to the final tournament. [7]

Draw

The draw took place on 27 March 2025, 15:00 MST (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur. [8]

For the first time in the tournament's history, the seeding for both qualifiers and final draws is based on the latest FIFA Women's World Ranking at the time of the draw. Previously, the teams were seeded according to their performance in the previous final tournament and qualification rankings. [9]

On 26 February 2025, the AFC confirmed the eight associations that had expressed their intent to host qualification groups ahead of the draw. The qualifying tournament originally was to feature eight groups, with one group comprising five teams, while the remaining seven groups would each consist of four teams. [10] On 2 March 2025, FIFA lifted the suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation, [11] clearing the way for Pakistan to enter qualification. As a result, 34 teams entered qualification and were drawn into two groups of five teams and six groups of four.

Automatically qualified for final tournament and not participating in qualification
  1. Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (16) (as final tournament hosts)
  2. Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (5)
  3. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (17)
  4. Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea (19)
Participating in qualification
Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4Pot 5
  1. Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea (9)
  2. Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam (H) (37)
  3. Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines (41)
  4. Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei (42)
  5. Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand (H) (47)
  6. Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan (H) (50)
  7. Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar (H) (55)
  8. Flag of Iran.svg  Iran (68)
  1. Flag of India.svg  India (69)
  2. Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan (H) (74)
  3. Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong (80)
  4. Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain (92)
  5. Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia (H) (94)
  6. Flag of Guam.svg  Guam (96)
  7. Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal (99)
  8. Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia (102)
  1. Flag of Laos.svg  Laos (107)
  2. Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates (112)
  3. Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia (H) (118)
  4. Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia (126)
  5. Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon (131)
  6. Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh (133)
  7. Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan (135)
  8. Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine (136)
  1. Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore (139)
  2. Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan (141)
  3. Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan (H) (155)
  4. Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan (157)
  5. Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka (158)
  6. Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste (159)
  7. Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives (163)
  8. Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia (166)
  1. Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan (171)
  2. Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq (173)
Notes
Did not enter

Format and schedule

Schedule

The matches were played during the windows of 23 June – 5 July and 7–19 July 2025. [3]

Competition schedule
MatchdayGroup A [12] Group BGroup C, D, E, F, G, H
DatesMatchesDatesMatchesDatesMatches
Matchday 17 July 20253 v 2, 5 v 423 June 20253 v 2, 5 v 429 June 20251 v 4, 2 v 3
Matchday 210 July 20254 v 1, 5 v 326 June 20254 v 1, 5 v 32 July 20253 v 1, 4 v 2
Matchday 313 July 20251 v 5, 2 v 429 June 20251 v 5, 2 v 45 July 20251 v 2, 3 v 4
Matchday 416 July 20253 v 1, 2 v 52 July 20253 v 1, 2 v 5
Matchday 519 July 20251 v 2, 4 v 35 July 20251 v 2, 4 v 3

Qualification tiebreakers

Tiebreakers

Teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 7.2.2): [4]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among participating teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among participating teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among participating teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the participating teams,
  5. Goal difference from all group matches;
  6. Goals scored from all group matches;
  7. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
  8. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  9. Drawing of lots.

Groups

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 4301145+99 [a] Final tournament
2Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan (H)4301132+119 [a]
3Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 420261376 [b]
4Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 42025726 [b]
5Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 4004213110
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Iran 3, Jordan 0.
  2. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Bhutan 3, Lebanon 0.
Bhutan  Flag of Bhutan.svg3–2Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
  • Bidha Soccerball shade.svg1'
  • Edon Soccerball shade.svg67'
  • Rai Soccerball shade.svg87'
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Keomany Phengmeuangkhoun (Laos)
Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svg0–4Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Rebecca Durcau (Australia)

Singapore  Flag of Singapore.svg0–4Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Khuloud Khudoum Al Zaabi (United Arab Emirates)
Bhutan  Flag of Bhutan.svg2–1Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Supiree Testhomya (Thailand)

Iran  Flag of Iran.svg7–1Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Lê Thị Ly (Vietnam)
Jordan  Flag of Jordan.svg5–0Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Plong Pich Akara (Cambodia)

Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svg3–1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Plong Pich Akara (Cambodia)
Jordan  Flag of Jordan.svg3–0Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Rebecca Durcau (Australia)

Singapore  Flag of Singapore.svg0–1Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Supiree Testhomya (Thailand)
Iran  Flag of Iran.svg2–1Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Referee: Lê Thị Ly (Vietnam)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of India.svg  India 4400241+2312 Final tournament
2Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand (H)4301232+219
3Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste 41123964
4Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 411251494
5Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 4004332290
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Mongolia  Flag of Mongolia.svg0–13Flag of India.svg  India
Report
Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg0–0Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste
Report
700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai
Referee: Munirah Ha Ali (Malaysia)

Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg5–2Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia
Report
Timor-Leste  Flag of East Timor.svg0–4Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Report
700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai
Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)

India  Flag of India.svg4–0Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste
Report
Thailand  Flag of Thailand.svg7–0Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Report

India  Flag of India.svg5–0Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Report
700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai
Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)
Mongolia  Flag of Mongolia.svg0–11Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Report
700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai
Referee: Nurul Ain Izatty (Malaysia)

Thailand  Flag of Thailand.svg1–2Flag of India.svg  India
Report

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 3300161+159 Final tournament
2Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar (H)3201152+136
3Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 3012215131
4Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 3012217151
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Myanmar  Flag of Myanmar.svg8–0Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
Report
Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Referee: Mu Mingxin (China)
Bahrain  Flag of Bahrain.svg0–7Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh
Report
Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Referee: Kanika Barman (India)

Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svg2–1Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar
Report
Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Referee: Esraa Almbaiden (Jordan)
Turkmenistan  Flag of Turkmenistan.svg2–2Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain
Report
Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Referee: Om Choki (Bhutan)

Myanmar  Flag of Myanmar.svg6–0Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain
Report
Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Referee: Supiree Testhomya (Thailand)
Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svg7–0Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
Report
Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Referee: Mu Mingxin (China)

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei 3300131+129 Final tournament
2Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 32014956
3Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia (H)31022423
4Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan 30031650
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Chinese Taipei  Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg8–0Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Report
Indonesia  Flag of Indonesia.svg1–0Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan
Report

Kyrgyzstan  Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg0–3Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei
Report
Sport Centre Kelapa Dua Stadium, Tangerang
Referee: Ranjita Devi Tekcham (India)
Pakistan  Flag of Pakistan.svg2–0Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Report
Sport Centre Kelapa Dua Stadium, Tangerang
Referee: Haruna Kanematsu (Japan)

Kyrgyzstan  Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg1–2Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Report

Group E

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam (H)3300170+179 Final tournament
2Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 31115614
3Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 31113414
4Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 3003015150
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Guam  Flag of Guam.svg0–0Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Report
Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ
Referee: Pansa Chaisanit (Thailand)

Maldives  Flag of Maldives.svg0–3Flag of Guam.svg  Guam
Report
Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ
Referee: Haneen Murad (Jordan)

United Arab Emirates  Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg5–0Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives
Report
Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ
Referee: Anjana Rai (Nepal)
Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svg4–0Flag of Guam.svg  Guam
Report
Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ
Referee: Alesar Baddour (Syria)

Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan (H)3210203+177 [a] Final tournament
2Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal 3210203+177 [a]
3Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 3102216143
4Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 3003020200
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Nepal and Uzbekistan were level on goal difference and goals scored. A penalty shoot-out was used to determine the final ranking.
Nepal    Flag of Nepal.svg9–0Flag of Laos.svg  Laos
Report
Milliy Stadium, Tashkent
Referee: Wint War Tun (Myanmar)
Uzbekistan  Flag of Uzbekistan.svg10–0Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
Report
Milliy Stadium, Tashkent
Referee: Asaka Koizumi (Japan)

Sri Lanka  Flag of Sri Lanka.svg0–8Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal
Report
Milliy Stadium, Tashkent
Referee: Wang Chieh (Chinese Taipei)
Laos  Flag of Laos.svg0–7Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan
Report
Milliy Stadium, Tashkent
Referee: Bùi Thị Thu Trang (Vietnam)

Laos  Flag of Laos.svg2–0Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
Report
Milliy Stadium, Tashkent
Referee: Park Se-jin (South Korea)
Uzbekistan  Flag of Uzbekistan.svg3–3Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal
Report
Penalties
4–2
Milliy Stadium, Tashkent
Referee: Asaka Koizumi (Japan)

Group G

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 3300100+109 Final tournament
2Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 31112204
3Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia (H)31113854
4Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 30031650
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Philippines  Flag of the Philippines.svg3–0Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Report
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Referee: Sunita Thongthawin (Thailand)
Hong Kong  Flag of Hong Kong.svg1–1Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia
Report
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Referee: Veronika Bernatskaia (Kyrgyzstan)

Saudi Arabia  Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg0–1Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
Report
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Referee: Nodira Mirzoeva (Tajikistan)
Cambodia  Flag of Cambodia.svg0–6Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
Report
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Referee: Oh Hyeon-jeong (South Korea)

Philippines  Flag of the Philippines.svg1–0Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
Report
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Referee: Lê Thị Ly (Vietnam)
Cambodia  Flag of Cambodia.svg2–1Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Report
Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Referee: Veronika Bernatskaia (Kyrgyzstan)

Group H

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 3300260+269 Final tournament
2Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 32012646
3Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 310231183
4Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan (H)3003014140
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Malaysia  Flag of Malaysia.svg1–0Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine
Farahiyah Soccerball shade.svg86' Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Referee: Yang Shu-ting (Chinese Taipei)
North Korea  Flag of North Korea.svg10–0Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan
Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Referee: Rawdha Almansoori (United Arab Emirates)

Palestine  Flag of Palestine.svg0–10Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Referee: Roziyabonu Yusupova (Uzbekistan)
Tajikistan  Flag of Tajikistan.svg0–1Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Report Henrietta Soccerball shade.svg90+2'
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Referee: Trần Thị Thanh (Vietnam)

North Korea  Flag of North Korea.svg6–0Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Referee: Rawdha Almansoori (United Arab Emirates)
Palestine  Flag of Palestine.svg3–0Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan
Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Referee: Gulshoda Saidqulova (Uzbekistan)

Qualified teams

The host country Australia qualified automatically, along with the top three teams from the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup. [14]

The following teams qualified for the tournament:

  1. FIFA Women's World Ranking at the time of qualification. [15]

Goalscorers

There were 267 goals scored in 56 matches, for an average of 4.77 goals per match.

9 goals

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

See also

Notes

  1. The Northern Mariana Islands Football Association is not affiliated with FIFA
  2. 1 2 3 Country does not field a women's national team.
  3. Group A's matches were originally scheduled to take place from 23 June to 5 July 2025. However, the AFC postponed the matches due to the ongoing Iran–Israel war. [12] [3]

References

  1. "AFC Competitions Calendar (July 2024 – June 2025)" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. 15 January 2025.
  2. "AFC Competitions Calendar (July 2025 - June 2026)" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. 15 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026: Stage set for #WAC2026 Qualifiers kick-off". Asian Football Confederation. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 "AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Competition Regulations" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation.
  5. "Australia and Uzbekistan confirmed as 2026 and 2029 AFC Women's Asian Cup hosts". the-AFC. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  6. "Entries for AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 Qualifiers confirmed". AFC. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  7. "Asian Football Calendar (February 2025 – January 2026)". AFC. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  8. "Stage set for #WAC2026 Qualifiers draw". AFC. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  9. "AFC Women's Football Committee approves AFC's world-class competitions' roster". AFC. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  10. "The AFC has entrusted Tajikistan with hosting the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification tournament". fft.tj. FFT. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  11. "Lifting of the suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)" (PDF). FIFA circular. No. 1924. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  12. 1 2 Kwek, Kimberly (19 June 2025). "Lionesses' Asian Cup qualifiers in Jordan postponed amid escalating Middle East tensions". straitstimes.com. The Straits Times. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  13. "Việt Nam chốt xong sân nhà mới cho vòng loại Asian Cup". Thethao 24/7 (in Vietnamese). 27 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025. Theo thông tin từ VFF, bảng E - vòng loại nữ Asian Cup 2026 của ĐT nữ Việt Nam sẽ được tổ chức trên sân Việt Trì (Phú Thọ)
  14. "Asian Football powerhouses qualify for AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026". Football Australia. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  15. "FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 12 June 2025.