KUALA LUMPUR – The path to the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 is officially underway, as 44 national teams learned their qualifying fates in Thursday’s draw ceremony held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.
The draw split the teams into 11 groups for the qualification stage, which will be played from September 1 to 9, 2025. The winners of each group, along with the four best runners-up, will punch their tickets to the final tournament in January 2026, joining host nation Saudi Arabia, who qualify automatically.
The stakes are high, with powerhouse nations and emerging sides spread across the groups in what promises to be a compelling race for the 15 remaining spots.
Group Highlights
Group A features Jordan (hosts), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, and Bhutan, with the Jordanians eyeing a return to the continental stage.
Japan, two-time champions, were drawn into Group B alongside Kuwait, Afghanistan, and hosts Myanmar.
In Group C, Vietnam will host Yemen, Singapore, and Bangladesh, while Australia headline Group D, facing China PR (hosts), Timor-Leste, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Former champions Uzbekistan will navigate Group E with Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (hosts), and Sri Lanka.
A regional showdown awaits in Group F, with Thailand (hosts), Malaysia, Lebanon, and Mongolia.
Iraq, inaugural U23 champions, lead Group G, but will need to get past Oman, Pakistan, and hosts Cambodia.
Qatar, aiming to impress ahead of hosting the Asian Games, are grouped in Group H with Bahrain, India, and Brunei Darussalam.
Group I is one of the most competitive, with hosts UAE facing Iran, Hong Kong, and Guam.
In Group J, 2020 winners Korea Republic will travel to Indonesia, joining Laos and Macau.
Rounding out the draw, Group K sees Tajikistan (hosts) meet Syria, Philippines, and Nepal.
With only the top 15 teams advancing to join hosts Saudi Arabia, the race is wide open and full of potential storylines. The tournament not only serves as a continental showcase but is also a crucial stepping stone for Asia’s next generation of stars.
As the countdown begins, all eyes now turn to September for what promises to be an intense and exciting round of qualifiers.
Eleven groups drawn as 44 teams begin the road to Saudi Arabia 2026. Qualifiers kick off this September across Asia.