U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers Draw: Korea Handed Favourable Group, Japan Face Tricky Path

2025-05-29     Han, June

 

The road to the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2026 has officially begun, as the draw for the Qualifiers was conducted on Thursday at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A total of 44 nations learned their group stage opponents for the September 1–9, 2025 qualifying window. The 11 group winners and four best runners-up will advance to the Finals, joining hosts Saudi Arabia, who will stage the tournament for the first time in January 2026.

The draw divided the 44 participating teams into 11 groups:

  • Group A: Jordan (hosts), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan

  • Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (hosts), Afghanistan

  • Group C: Vietnam (hosts), Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh

  • Group D: Australia, China PR (hosts), Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands

  • Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (hosts), Sri Lanka

  • Group F: Thailand (hosts), Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia

  • Group G: Iraq, Cambodia (hosts), Oman, Pakistan

  • Group H: Qatar (hosts), Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam

  • Group I: UAE (hosts), IR Iran, Hong Kong, China, Guam

  • Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia (hosts), Laos, Macau

  • Group K: Tajikistan (hosts), Syria, Philippines, Nepal

Korea's Route Looks Manageable

South Korea, the 2020 champions, were drawn into Group J alongside hosts Indonesia, Laos, and Macau. Many observers believe the Taeguk Warriors have been handed a relatively comfortable path to the Finals, with Indonesia posing the biggest challenge in the group. Given the strength and depth of Korea's youth programme, expectations are high for a dominant performance.

Japan Face a Tougher Test

In contrast, two-time winners Japan landed in a far more competitive Group B, which includes Kuwait, hosts Myanmar, and Afghanistan. While Japan are widely considered among the favourites for qualification, pundits have noted the potential difficulties of facing a motivated host side and unpredictable opposition in such a balanced group.

Other Key Matchups

Host nation Saudi Arabia are already assured of their place in the Finals, leaving heavyweights such as Uzbekistan (Group E), Australia (Group D), and Iraq (Group G) to fight for their tickets through the qualification stage.

Group I, featuring UAE, Iran, and Hong Kong, promises to be particularly competitive, while Group H—home to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Brunei Darussalam—is expected to produce closely contested fixtures.

With only 15 places up for grabs, the September qualifiers are set to be fiercely fought across the continent. The 2026 Finals will serve as a crucial test bed for Asia’s emerging talents ahead of the global spotlight at the Olympic level.