December 10 – With the first 18 teams already qualified for the Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, the AFC has drawn the next 25 teams into six qualifying groups for the confederation’s blue riband national team competition.
The increased competitiveness of AFC competition see nine teams who appeared at Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar competing in the next qualifying round, with only the six group winners to qualify for Saudi Arabia 2027.
Group A saw top seeds Tajikistan – who made it through to the Round of 16 at Qatar 2023, but then missed out for the final ground round of World Cup 2026 qualification – drawn with Philippines, Maldives and Timor-Leste.
In Group B, Lebanon, who are returning to domestic football while the current ceasefire with Israel holds, will meet Yemen (2019 finalists), Bhutan and Brunei Darussalam.
Group C, with five teams, looks to be the toughest qualification group with India, Hong Kong, and China who all appeared in Qatar 2023 earlier this year, joined by Singapore and Bangladesh. The world’s two biggest nations – India and China – have both expressed football ambitions and a desire to be at the world’s biggest competitions.
Thailand, who were one of the surprise teams at Qatar 2023, making it to the round of 16, will be favourites to win Group D against Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka.
A re-energised Syria whose federation has welcomed the country’s regime change as being positive for its national football development, are favourites for Group E and will face by Afghanistan, Myanmar and Pakistan.
Group F looks like being a fierce battle between Vietnam and Malaysia who both played at Qatar 2023 but ultimately disappointed, with both finishing bottom of their groups. They are joined in Group F by Nepal and Laos.
The Qualifiers kick off March 25, 2025 with the teams to play on a home and away basis. In 2025 match dates after the March kick-off are June 10, October 9, October 14, November 18, with the final match date being March 31 in 2026.
The finals will be played in Saudi Arabia from 15 January to 8 February 2027. The tournament will return to its usual four-year cycle, after the 2023 edition was postponed to 2024 due to the removal of China as hosts, and high summer temperatures in Qatar.
Qatar where Asian Cup champions in 2019, and again in 2023.
DRAW RESULT
Group A: Tajikistan, Philippines, Maldives, Timor-Leste
Group B: Lebanon, Yemen, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam
Group C: India, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Bangladesh
Group D: Thailand, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka
Group E: Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan
Group F: Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Laos
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