2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
Tournament details
Dates12 October 2023 – 31 March 2026
Teams47[note 1] (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Top scorer(s)Qatar Almoez Ali
(4 goals)

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]

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]

  • First round:[note 2] 20 teams (ranked 27–46) will play home-and-away over two legs.
    • 10 winners advance to the second round.
    • 1 best ranked losing team advance to the third round of Asian Cup qualification.
    • 9 worst ranked losing teams advance to the play-off round of Asian Cup qualification.
  • Second round:[note 3] 36 teams (ranked 1–26 and 10 first-round winners) are divided into 9 groups of 4 teams to play home-and-away double round-robin matches.
    • The 9 group winners and 9 group runners-up qualify for the Asian Cup along with host Saudi Arabia and advance to the third round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
    • The remaining 18 advance directly to the third round of Asian Cup qualification.
  • Play-off round:[note 4] 10 teams (9 worst ranked losing teams from the first round + Northern Mariana Islands) will play home-and-away over two legs that determine the final five qualifiers for the third round.
  • Third round:[note 5] 24 teams (1 best ranked losing team from first round + 18 third and fourth-placed teams from the second round + 5 winners from the play-off round) will be divided into 6 groups of 4 teams to play home-and-away double round-robin matches and the winner of each group will occupy the remaining 6 slots for the Asian Cup.

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 round Competing in first round Competing in play-off round
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 1 Pot 2
  1.  Japan (20)
  2.  Iran (22)
  3.  Australia (27)
  4.  South Korea (28)
  5.  Saudi Arabia (54)
  6.  Qatar (59)
  7.  Iraq (70)
  8.  United Arab Emirates (72)
  9.  Oman (73)
  1.  Uzbekistan (74)
  2.  China (80)
  3.  Jordan (82)
  4.  Bahrain (86)
  5.  Syria (94)
  6.  Vietnam (95)
  7.  Palestine (96)
  8.  Kyrgyzstan (97)
  9.  India (99)
  1.  Lebanon (100)
  2.  Tajikistan (110)
  3.  Thailand (113)
  4.  North Korea (115)
  5.  Philippines (135)
  6.  Malaysia (136)
  7.  Kuwait (137)
  8.  Turkmenistan (138)
  1.  Hong Kong (149)
  2.  Indonesia (150)
  3.  Chinese Taipei (153)
  4.  Maldives (155)
  5.  Yemen (156)
  6.  Afghanistan (157)
  7.  Singapore (158)
  8.  Myanmar (160)
  9.    Nepal (175)
  10.  Cambodia (176)
  1.  Macau (182)
  2.  Mongolia (183)
  3.  Bhutan (185)
  4.  Laos (187)
  5.  Bangladesh (189)
  6.  Brunei (190)
  7.  Timor-Leste (192)
  8.  Pakistan (201)
  9.  Guam (203)
  10.  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.

Round Matchday Date(s)
First round First leg 12 October 2023
Second leg 17 October 2023
Second round Matchday 1 16 November 2023
Matchday 2 21 November 2023
Matchday 3 21 March 2024
Matchday 4 26 March 2024
Matchday 5 6 June 2024
Matchday 6 11 June 2024
Round Matchday Date
Play-off round First leg 5 September 2024
Second leg 10 September 2024
Third round Matchday 1 25 March 2025
Matchday 2 10 June 2025
Matchday 3 9 September 2025
Matchday 4 14 October 2025
Matchday 5 18 November 2025
Matchday 6 31 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

2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification first round
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Afghanistan  2–0  Mongolia 1–0 1–0
Maldives  2–3  Bangladesh 1–1 1–2
Singapore  3–1  Guam 2–1 1–0
Yemen  4–1  Sri Lanka 3–0 1–1
Myanmar  5–1  Macau 5–1 0–0
Cambodia  0–1  Pakistan 0–0 0–1
Chinese Taipei  7–0  Timor-Leste 4–0 3–0
Indonesia  12–0  Brunei 6–0 6–0
Hong Kong  4–2  Bhutan 4–0 0–2
Nepal    2–1  Laos 1–1 1–0

Ranking of best losing teams

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Bhutan 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 3 Asian Cup qualifying third round
2  Maldives 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round
3  Laos 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1
4  Cambodia 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1
5  Sri Lanka 2 0 1 1 1 4 −3 1
6  Macau 2 0 1 1 1 5 −4 1
7  Guam 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 0
8  Mongolia 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2 0
9  Timor-Leste 2 0 0 2 0 7 −7 0
10  Brunei 2 0 0 2 0 12 −12 0
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

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Qatar Kuwait India Afghanistan
1  Qatar 2 2 0 0 11 1 +10 6 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 21 Mar 11 Jun 8–1
2  Kuwait 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 3 26 Mar — 0–1 11 Jun
3  India 2 1 0 1 1 3 −2 3 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 6 Jun — 26 Mar
4  Afghanistan 2 0 0 2 1 12 −11 0 6 Jun 0–4 21 Mar —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Japan North Korea Syria Myanmar
1  Japan 2 2 0 0 10 0 +10 6 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 21 Mar 11 Jun 5–0
2  North Korea 2 1 0 1 6 2 +4 3 26 Mar — 6 Jun 11 Jun
3  Syria 2 1 0 1 1 5 −4 3 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–5 1–0 — 26 Mar
4  Myanmar 2 0 0 2 1 11 −10 0 6 Jun 1–6 21 Mar —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification South Korea Thailand China Singapore
1  South Korea 2 2 0 0 8 0 +8 6 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 21 Mar 11 Jun 5–0
2  Thailand 2 1 0 1 4 3 +1 3 26 Mar — 1–2 11 Jun
3  China 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 3 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–3 6 Jun — 26 Mar
4  Singapore 2 0 0 2 1 8 −7 0 6 Jun 1–3 21 Mar —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Malaysia Oman Kyrgyzstan Chinese Taipei
1  Malaysia 2 2 0 0 5 3 +2 6 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 26 Mar 4–3 11 Jun
2  Oman 2 1 0 1 3 1 +2 3 21 Mar — 11 Jun 3–0
3  Kyrgyzstan 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3 Asian Cup qualifying third round 6 Jun 1–0 — 26 Mar
4  Chinese Taipei 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 0 0–1 6 Jun 21 Mar —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Iran Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Hong Kong
1  Iran 2 1 1 0 6 2 +4 4 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 4–0
2  Uzbekistan 2 1 1 0 5 3 +2 4 2–2 — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Turkmenistan 2 0 1 1 3 5 −2 1 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 1–3 — 11 Jun
4  Hong Kong 2 0 1 1 2 6 −4 1 6 Jun 21 Mar 2–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Iraq Vietnam Philippines Indonesia
1  Iraq 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 6 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 5–1
2  Vietnam 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3 0–1 — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Philippines 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1 Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 0–2 — 1–1
4  Indonesia 2 0 1 1 2 6 −4 1 6 Jun 21 Mar 11 Jun —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Saudi Arabia Tajikistan Jordan Pakistan
1  Saudi Arabia[lower-alpha 1] 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6 6 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 21 Mar 11 Jun 4–0
2  Tajikistan 2 1 1 0 7 2 +5 4 26 Mar — 1–1 11 Jun
3  Jordan 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–2 6 Jun — 26 Mar
4  Pakistan 2 0 0 2 1 10 −9 0 6 Jun 1–6 21 Mar —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ↑ Saudi Arabia has already qualified for the Asian Cup as the host nation.

Group H

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification United Arab Emirates Bahrain Yemen Nepal
1  United Arab Emirates 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6 6 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 11 Jun 21 Mar 4–0
2  Bahrain 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3[lower-alpha 1] 0–2 — 6 Jun 26 Mar
3  Yemen 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3[lower-alpha 1] Asian Cup qualifying third round 26 Mar 0–2 — 11 Jun
4    Nepal 2 0 0 2 0 6 −6 0 6 Jun 21 Mar 0–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Bahrain 3, Yemen 0.

Group I

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Australia Lebanon State of Palestine Bangladesh
1  Australia 2 2 0 0 8 0 +8 6 World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup — 21 Mar 11 Jun 7–0
2  Lebanon 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 26 Mar — 0–0 11 Jun
3  Palestine 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1 Asian Cup qualifying third round 0–1 6 Jun — 26 Mar
4  Bangladesh 2 0 1 1 1 8 −7 1 6 Jun 1–1 21 Mar —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2023. Source: FIFA AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Play-off round

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg

Third round

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2 A2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 A3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 A4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2 B2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 B3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 B4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 C1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2 C2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 C4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2 D2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 D3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 E1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2 E2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 E3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 E4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: March 2025. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 F1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2027 AFC Asian Cup
2 F2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 F3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 F4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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.

Team Method of
qualification		 Date of
qualification		 Finals
appearances		 Last
appearance		 Previous best
performance
 Saudi ArabiaHosts1 February 202312th2023Winners (1984, 1988, 1996)

Top goalscorers

There have been 51 goals scored in 20 matches, for an average of 2.55 goals per match (as of 17 October 2023).

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

  • Bhutan Tenzin Norbu (against Hong Kong)

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

    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.
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