2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Last updated
2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
AFC Asian Qualifiers.png
Tournament details
Dates12 October 2023 – 31 March 2026
Teams47 [note 1]  (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played91
Goals scored281 (3.09 per match)
Attendance1,480,180 (16,266 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Qatar.svg Almoez Ali
(7 goals)
← 2023
2031 →
All statistics correct as of 26 March 2024.

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification is the qualification process organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to determine the participating teams for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, the 19th edition of the international men's football championship of Asia. Since 2019, the Asian Cup final tournament is contested by 24 teams, having been expanded from the 16-team format that was used from 2004 to 2015. [1] [2]

Contents

The qualification process involves four rounds, where the first two rounds double as the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification for Asian teams.

Format

The qualification structure is as follows: [3]

Entrants

Forty-six FIFA-affiliated nations are eligible to enter the joint qualification process for both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup; Northern Mariana Islands, which is not a FIFA member, will enter through the playoff round. [3]

The draw for the first and second rounds of joint qualification took place on 27 July 2023. [4] Teams were seeded into four pots. Pots 1, 2 and 3 contain the teams ranked 1–9, 10-18 and 19-26 respectively, while Pot 4 contains the remaining 20 teams (ranked 27–46). All teams from Pot 4 were drawn to the first round into two pots. Teams from Pots 1, 2 and 3 were drawn directly to the second round, along with an allocated first-round tie winner. [5] [4]

From the July 2023 FIFA World Rankings [6]
Bye to second roundCompeting in first roundCompeting in play-off round
Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 1Pot 2
  1. Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (20)
  2. Flag of Iran.svg  Iran (22)
  3. Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (27)
  4. Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea (28)
  5. Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia (54)
  6. Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar (59)
  7. Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq (70)
  8. Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates (72)
  9. Flag of Oman.svg  Oman (73)
  1. Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan (74)
  2. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (80)
  3. Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan (82)
  4. Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain (86)
  5. Flag of Syria.svg  Syria (94)
  6. Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam (95)
  7. Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine (96)
  8. Flag of Kyrgyzstan (1992-2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan (97)
  9. Flag of India.svg  India (99)
  1. Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon (100)
  2. Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan (110)
  3. Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand (113)
  4. Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea (115)
  5. Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines (135)
  6. Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia (136)
  7. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait (137)
  8. Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan (138)
  1. Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong (149)
  2. Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia (150)
  3. Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei (153)
  4. Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives (155)
  5. Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen (156)
  6. Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan (157)
  7. Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore (158)
  8. Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar (160)
  9. Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal (175)
  10. Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia (176)
  1. Flag of Macau.svg  Macau (182)
  2. Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia (183)
  3. Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan (185)
  4. Flag of Laos.svg  Laos (187)
  5. Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh (189)
  6. Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei (190)
  7. Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor (192)
  8. Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan (201)
  9. Flag of Guam.svg  Guam (203)
  10. Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka (204)

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is expected to be as follows, according to the AFC Competitions Calendar. [7] [8] [9] This is the first Asian Cup qualification that starts before the previous final matches would be held, as the 2023 AFC Asian Cup was postponed to early 2024.

RoundMatchdayDate(s)
First round First leg12 October 2023
Second leg17 October 2023
Second round Matchday 116 November 2023
Matchday 221 November 2023
Matchday 321 March 2024
Matchday 426 March 2024
Matchday 56 June 2024
Matchday 611 June 2024
RoundMatchdayDate
Play-off round First leg5 September 2024
Second leg10 September 2024
Third round Matchday 125 March 2025
Matchday 210 June 2025
Matchday 39 September 2025
Matchday 414 October 2025
Matchday 518 November 2025
Matchday 631 March 2026

First round

The draw for the first round was held on 27 July 2023 at 14:00 MST (UTC+8) at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [4]

Summary

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Afghanistan  Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg2–0Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 1–0 1–0
Maldives  Flag of Maldives.svg2–3Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 1–1 1–2
Singapore  Flag of Singapore.svg3–1Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 2–1 1–0
Yemen  Flag of Yemen.svg4–1Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 3–0 1–1
Myanmar  Flag of Myanmar.svg5–1Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 5–1 0–0
Cambodia  Flag of Cambodia.svg0–1Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 0–0 0–1
Chinese Taipei  Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg7–0Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor 4–0 3–0
Indonesia  Flag of Indonesia.svg12–0Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 6–0 6–0
Hong Kong  Flag of Hong Kong.svg4–2Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 4–0 0–2
Nepal    Flag of Nepal.svg2–1Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 1–1 1–0

Ranking of best losing teams

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 210124−23 Asian Cup qualifying third round
2Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 201123−11 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round
3Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 201112−11
4Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 201101−11
5Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 201114−31
6Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 201115−41
7Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 200213−20
8Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 200202−20
9Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor 200207−70
10Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 2002012−120
Source: AFC

Second round

The draw for the second round was held on 27 July 2023 at 16:00 MST (UTC+8) at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [4]

Group A

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Qatar.svg Flag of India.svg Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Flag of Kuwait.svg
1Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar (Q)4400162+1412 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 8–1 3–0
2Flag of India.svg  India 411225−34 0–3 — 1–2 6 Jun
3Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan 4112313−104 Asian Cup qualifying third round 6 Jun 0–0 — 0–4
4Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 410356−13 1–2 0–1 11 Jun —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group B

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Japan.svg Flag of Syria.svg Flag of North Korea.svg Flag of Myanmar.svg
1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 3300110+119 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 1–0 5–0
2Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 421196+37 0–5 — 1–0 7–0
3Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 310263+33 Asian Cup qualifying third round Canc. 6 Jun — 11 Jun
4Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 4013219−171 6 Jun 1–1 1–6 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of South Korea.svg Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Flag of Thailand.svg Flag of Singapore.svg
1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 4310121+1110 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 1–1 5–0
2Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 421187+17 0–3 — 6 Jun 4–1
3Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 411257−24 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 1–2 — 11 Jun
4Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 4013414−101 6 Jun 2–2 1–3 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Flag of Oman.svg Flag of Malaysia.svg Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg
1Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 4301115+69 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 1–0 6 Jun 5–1
2Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 430171+69 11 Jun — 2–0 3–0
3Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 420257−26 Asian Cup qualifying third round 4–3 0–2 — 11 Jun
4Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei (Q)4004111−100 0–2 6 Jun 0–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group E

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Iran.svg Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Flag of Hong Kong.svg
1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran (Q)4310122+1010 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 5–0 4–0
2Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan (Q)4310103+710 2–2 — 6 Jun 3–0
3Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan (Q)4013311−81 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–1 1–3 — 11 Jun
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong (Q)4013211−91 6 Jun 0–2 2–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group F

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Iraq.svg Flag of Indonesia.svg Flag of Vietnam.svg Flag of the Philippines.svg
1Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq (Q)4400121+1112 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 5–1 11 Jun 1–0
2Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 42116607 6 Jun — 1–0 11 Jun
3Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 410325−33 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–1 0–3 — 6 Jun
4Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 401319−81 0–5 1–1 0–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group G

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Flag of Jordan.svg Flag of Tajikistan.svg Flag of Pakistan.svg
1Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia [lower-alpha 1] 431081+710 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 1–0 4–0
2Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 4211113+87 0–2 — 6 Jun 7–0
3Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 412184+45 Asian Cup qualifying third round 1–1 1–1 — 11 Jun
4Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan (Q)4004120−190 6 Jun 0–3 1–6 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
  1. ↑ Saudi Arabia has already qualified for the Asian Cup as the host nation.

Group H

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Flag of Bahrain.svg Flag of Yemen.svg Flag of Nepal.svg
1Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates (Q)4400111+1012 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 2–1 4–0
2Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 4301102+89 0–2 — 6 Jun 3–0
3Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 410337−43 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 0–2 — 11 Jun
4Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal (Q)4004014−140 6 Jun 0–5 0–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group I

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of Palestine.svg Flag of Lebanon.svg Flag of Bangladesh.svg
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (Q)4400150+1512 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 2–0 7–0
2Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 421161+57 0–1 — 6 Jun 5–0
3Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 402218−72 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–5 0–0 — 11 Jun
4Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 4013114−131 6 Jun 0–1 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Play-off round

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Flag of None.svgFlag of None.svg
Flag of None.svgFlag of None.svg
Flag of None.svgFlag of None.svg
Flag of None.svgFlag of None.svg
Flag of None.svgFlag of None.svg

Third round

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1A100000000 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2A200000000
3A300000000
4A400000000
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1B100000000 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2B200000000
3B300000000
4B400000000
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1C100000000 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2C200000000
3C300000000
4C400000000
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1D100000000 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2D200000000
3D300000000
4D400000000
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group E

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1E100000000 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2E200000000
3E300000000
4E400000000
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1F100000000 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2F200000000
3F300000000
4F400000000
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Qualified teams

A total of 24 teams will qualify for the final tournament including the host Saudi Arabia.

TeamMethod of
qualification		Date of
qualification		Finals
appearances		Last
appearance		Previous best
performance
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Hosts1 February 202312th 2023 Winners (1984, 1988, 1996)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Second round Group I top-two26 March 20246th 2023 Winners (2015)
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Second round Group F top-two26 March 202411th 2023 Winners (2007)
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran Second round Group E top-two26 March 202416th 2023 Winners (1968, 1972, 1976)
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan Second round Group E top-two26 March 20249th 2023 Fourth Place (2011)
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar Second round Group A winner26 March 202412th 2023 Winners (2019, 2023)
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates Second round Group H top-two26 March 202412th 2023 Runners-up (1996)

Top goalscorers

There have been 281 goals scored in 91 matches, for an average of 3.09 goals per match (as of 26 March 2024).

7 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

Below is full goalscorers lists for all rounds:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Saudi Arabia participated to reach the World Cup.
  2. ↑ Listed on the official AFC website as Preliminary Joint Qualification round 1
  3. ↑ Listed on the official AFC website as Preliminary Joint Qualification round 2
  4. ↑ Listed on the official AFC website as AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Playoff
  5. ↑ Listed on the official AFC website as AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Final round

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2026 FIFA World Cup qualification</span> International football competition

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will decide the teams that will join hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification</span> International football competition

    The 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification was the qualification process organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to determine the participating teams for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the 18th edition of the international men's football championship of Asia. Since 2019, the Asian Cup final tournament is contested by 24 teams, having been expanded from the 16-team format that was used from 2004 to 2015.

    Twelve teams competed in the 2020 women's Olympic football tournament.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)</span> International football competition

    The Asian section of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification acted as qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar for national teams who are members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Apart from Qatar, a total of 4.5 slots in the final tournament were available for AFC teams.

    The 2020 AFC Futsal Championship would have been the 16th edition of the AFC Futsal Championship, the biennial international futsal championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's national teams of Asia. A total of 16 teams would have taken part in the tournament.

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) is the African section of the qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. A total of nine slots in the final tournament and one inter-confederation play-off slot are reserved for CAF teams.

    Overview of the 2019–20 season of association football in the Maldives. The season was abandoned on 15 March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives. It was declared void on 30 March 2020.

    The India national football team has participated in ten editions of the FIFA World Cup qualification. This is the complete list of all the nation's matches played, along with records against each opponent.

    The 2023–24 AFC Champions League is the 42nd edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 21st and final under the current AFC Champions League title, as the competition will be rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite starting in 2024–25.

    The 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualification is a basketball competition that is being played from June 2022 to February 2025, to determine the fifteen FIBA Asia–Oceania nations who will join the automatically qualified host Saudi Arabia at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.

    The 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup qualification is a women's under-20 football competition that will determine the participating teams in the 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup final tournament. Players born on or after 1 January 2004 are eligible to participate.

    The 2024–25 UEFA Nations League will be the fourth season of the UEFA Nations League, an international association football competition involving the men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA. The competition will be held from September to November 2024, March 2025, June 2025 and March 2026.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)</span> International football competition

    The Asian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for national teams of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). AFC teams have been allocated eight direct qualifying slots and one inter-confederation play-off slot.

    The North, Central American and Caribbean section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, for national teams which are members of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Three direct slots and two inter-confederation play-off slots in the final tournament were available for CONCACAF teams.

    The second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC qualification, which also serves as the second round of 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification, began on 16 November 2023 and will be completed on 11 June 2024.

    This article describes the qualification process for the 2026 European Men's Handball Championship and EHF Euro Cup.

    The second round of CONCACAF matches of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification is expected to take place during the months of June 2024 and June 2025.

    The third round of AFC matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will be played from 5 September 2024 to 10 June 2025.

    The 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualification was an international men's national futsal competition which decided the participating teams of the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup.

    The third round of 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification will be played from 25 March 2025 to 31 March 2026.

    References

    1. ↑ "ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals". Asian Football Confederation. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015.
    2. ↑ "AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC. 10 September 2020.
    3. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions". AFC. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
    4. 1 2 3 4 "Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers draw". AFC. 5 July 2023.
    5. ↑ Nasir, Saad (23 June 2023). "Pakistan's Draws for FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers Revealed". ProSports. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
    6. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking – July 2023". FIFA. 20 July 2023.
    7. ↑ "AFC Competitions Calendar (Aug 2023 - Jul 2024)" (PDF). AFC.
    8. ↑ "AFC Competitions Calendar (Aug 2024 - Jul 2025)" (PDF). AFC.
    9. ↑ "AFC Competitions Calendar (Aug 2025 - Jul 2026)" (PDF). AFC.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.