2027 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification

2027 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification
Tournament details
Host countries Kyrgyzstan (Group A)
 Uzbekistan (Group B)
 Vietnam (Group C)
 Bahrain (Group D)
 Qatar (Group E)
 Thailand (Group F)
 Cambodia (Group G)
 Laos (Group H)
 Mongolia (Group I)
 Bhutan (Group J)
 Myanmar (Group K)
Dates31 August – 6 September 2026[1]
Teams44 (from 1 confederation)
← 2025
2029 →

The 2027 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification is an upcoming international men's under-20 football competition organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament is scheduled to be held from 31 August to 6 September 2026 to determine the participating teams for the 2027 AFC U-20 Asian Cup.[1]

Format

In January 2026, the AFC introduced a new two-phase format for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers, featuring a Qualification Phase and a Development Phase with promotion and relegation. Teams were allocated into each phase based on a ranking derived from the results of the three most recent editions of the tournament (2018, 2023 and 2025). In each phase, teams are drawn into groups to play a single round-robin format at centralised venues:[2][3]

  • Qualification Phase: Thirty-two teams are divided into eight groups of four. The winners of each group, and the seven best runners-up, qualify for the final tournament. The six lowest ranked fourth-placed teams across all groups are relegated to the Development Phase for the subsequent edition of the qualifiers.
  • Development Phase: Twelve teams are divided into three groups of four. The top two teams in each group are promoted to the Qualification Phase for the subsequent edition of the qualifiers.

Draw

The draw took place on 28 May 2026 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[3]

Teams are seeded based on the results of the three most recent editions of the tournament (2018, 2023 and 2025). The teams hosting the qualification groups are also allocated to an additional "Hosts Pot", to ensure they are drawn into different groups. Final tournament hosts China will not participate in the qualifiers.[3]

Qualification Phase
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
Development Phase
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
  1.    Nepal (W)
  2.  Brunei
  3.  Bhutan (H)
Did not enter
Notes
  • (H): Qualification group hosts
  • (W): Withdrew after the draw

Schedule

RoundDate
Matchday 1 31 August 2026
Matchday 2 3 September 2026
Matchday 3 6 September 2026

Qualification phase

  The eight group winners and the seven best runners-up qualify for the final tournament.

Tiebreakers
Teams were 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:[4]
  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied 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 this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in 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.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1  South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2  Kyrgyzstan (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the final tournament based on rankings
3  Lebanon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Philippines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Lebanon v South Korea
Kyrgyzstan v Lebanon
South Korea v Kyrgyzstan

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1  Uzbekistan (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2  Syria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the final tournament based on rankings
3  India 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Bangladesh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible relegation to Development phase based on rankings
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Syria v India
Do'stlik Stadium, Tashkent
Uzbekistan v Bangladesh
Do'stlik Stadium, Tashkent
Bangladesh v Syria
Do'stlik Stadium, Tashkent
India v Uzbekistan
Do'stlik Stadium, Tashkent
India v Bangladesh
Do'stlik Stadium, Tashkent
Uzbekistan v Syria
Do'stlik Stadium, Tashkent

Group C

  • All matches will be held in Vietnam.
  • Times listed are UTC+7.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1  Iran 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2  Vietnam (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the final tournament based on rankings
3  North Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Palestine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible relegation to Development phase based on rankings
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Iran v Palestine
Vietnam v North Korea
North Korea v Iran
Palestine v Vietnam
North Korea v Palestine
Iran v Vietnam

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1  Jordan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2  Tajikistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the final tournament based on rankings
3  Bahrain (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Afghanistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible relegation to Development phase based on rankings
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Jordan v Afghanistan
Tajikistan v Bahrain
Afghanistan v Tajikistan
Bahrain v Jordan
Jordan v Tajikistan
Bahrain v Afghanistan

Group E

  • All matches were held in Qatar.
  • Times listed are UTC+3.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1  Saudi Arabia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2  Qatar (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the final tournament based on rankings
3  Oman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Hong Kong 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible relegation to Development phase based on rankings
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Saudi Arabia v Hong Kong
Qatar v Oman
Oman v Saudi Arabia
Hong Kong v Qatar
Oman v Hong Kong
Saudi Arabia v Qatar

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1  Iraq 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2  Thailand (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the final tournament based on rankings
3  United Arab Emirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Turkmenistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible relegation to Development phase based on rankings
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Iraq v Turkmenistan
Thailand v United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates v Iraq
Turkmenistan v Thailand
United Arab Emirates v Turkmenistan
Iraq v Thailand

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1  Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2  Yemen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the final tournament based on rankings
3  Cambodia (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Kuwait 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible relegation to Development phase based on rankings
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Japan v Kuwait
Yemen v Cambodia
Kuwait v Yemen
Cambodia v Japan
Japan v Yemen
Cambodia v Kuwait

Group H

  • All matches were held in Laos.
  • Times listed are UTC+7.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2  Indonesia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the final tournament based on rankings
3  Malaysia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Laos (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible relegation to Development phase based on rankings
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Indonesia v Malaysia
Australia v Laos
Malaysia v Australia
Laos v Indonesia
Australia v Indonesia
Malaysia v Laos

Ranking of second-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A Group A runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualified for the final tournament
2 B Group B runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C Group C runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D Group D runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 E Group E runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 F Group F runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 G Group G runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 H Group H runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) disciplinary points; 5) drawing of lots.

Ranking of fourth-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation
1 B Group B fourth-place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 C Group C fourth-place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 D Group D fourth-place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegated to the Development phase
4 E Group E fourth-place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 F Group F fourth-place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 G Group G fourth-place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 H Group H fourth-place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 A  Philippines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) disciplinary points; 5) drawing of lots.

Development phase

Group I

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1  Mongolia (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to Qualification phase
2  Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Northern Mariana Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4    Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Nepal withdrew due to a FIFA suspension

Northern Mariana Islands v Mongolia
Guam v Northern Mariana Islands
Mongolia v Guam

Group J

  • All matches were held in Bhutan.
  • Times listed are UTC+6.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1  Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to Qualification phase
2  Singapore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Bhutan (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Macau 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Chinese Taipei v Macau
Singapore v Bhutan
Macau v Singapore
Bhutan v Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei v Singapore
Bhutan v Macau

Group K

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1  Myanmar (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to Qualification phase
2  Maldives 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Brunei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 31 August 2026. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Myanmar v Sri Lanka
Maldives v Brunei
Brunei v Myanmar
Sri Lanka v Maldives
Myanmar v Maldives
Brunei v Sri Lanka

Summary

Qualified teams

A total of 16 teams, including the hosts, will qualify for the final tournament.

Team Qualified as Appearance Previous best performance
 ChinaHosts21stChampions (1985)
TBDGroup A winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup B winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup C winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup D winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup E winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup F winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup G winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup H winnersTBDTBD
TBDBest runners-upTBDTBD
TBD2nd-best runners-upTBDTBD
TBD3rd-best runners-upTBDTBD
TBD4th-best runners-upTBDTBD
TBD5th-best runners-upTBDTBD
TBD6th-best runners-upTBDTBD
TBD7th-best runners-upTBDTBD

Promotion

A total of six teams from the development phase will be promoted to the 2029 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification phase.

Team Qualified as Appearance Previous best performance
TBDGroup I winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup J winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup K winnersTBDTBD
TBDGroup I runners-upTBDTBD
TBDGroup J runners-upTBDTBD
TBDGroup K runners-upTBDTBD

Relegation

The six lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams from the qualification phase will be relegated to the 2029 AFC U-20 Asian Cup development phase.

Team Qualified as Appearance Previous best performance
TBDLowest fourth-placeTBDTBD
TBDSecond-lowest Fourth-placeTBDTBD
TBDThird-lowest Fourth-placeTBDTBD
TBDFourth-lowest Fourth-placeTBDTBD
TBDFifth-lowest Fourth-placeTBDTBD
TBDSixth-lowest Fourth-placeTBDTBD

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Calendar (July 2026 - June 2027)" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Key reforms to youth competitions recommended". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 24 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Battles to be unveiled for #AFCU20 China 2027 Qualifiers". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 21 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Competition Regulations AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027" (PDF). the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
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