AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 qualifications: India to organize competitions in November; Drawing, qualifying format, key dates – explained

India is one of the seven hosts of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi -Aarabia 2026 qualifications, planned to be played from 22 to 30 November 2025.

Which countries organize the qualifications?

Apart from India, China PR, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Kyrgyz Republic and Jordan are the other six hosts.

Which Indian city will organize the competitions?

The matches in India are played in the Arena in Ahmedabad.

When is the draw?

The draw for the qualifications takes place on August 7, 2025.

What is the trekking format?

The 38 countries that participate in the qualifications will be drawn in seven groups (three groups of six teams and four groups of five teams each).

The 38 teams are divided into six pots based on the sowing and pot allocation principle, which takes into account the performance of the team in the last three tournaments (2025, 2023 and 2018).

India is in which pot?

Although India is in pot 2, it is placed in an extra host pot for the purpose of the draw to ensure that all hosts are drawn in individual groups.

The other six hosts who cannot be drawn in the group of India.

Qualification

The group winners are eligible for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Aarabia 2026 and joins nine participating AFC teams in the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025, which has already directly qualified for the tournament.

Qualification Data:

November 22, 2025