The path to futsal glory in Asia is about to unfold. On Thursday, June 26, 2025, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will conduct the official Qualifiers draw for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2026 at 3pm (local time) at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

With 31 teams confirmed, the stage is set for one of the most competitive qualifying campaigns in recent history, as Asia’s finest prepare to battle for a place in the 18th edition of the Continent’s premier futsal championship.

Format & Stakes: 31 Teams, 8 Groups, 15 Spots Up for Grabs

The Qualifiers will run from September 20 to 24 and will feature eight groups—seven groups of four and one group of three—played in a centralised league format.

Indonesia, the host nation and former 2002 hosts, are automatically qualified for the Finals. They will be joined by 15 other teams: the eight group winners and the seven best-ranked runners-up.

The Finals are scheduled to take place in January 2026, marking Indonesia’s second time hosting the event.

New Faces & Futsal Powerhouses

Among the 31 participating nations are two debutants:

• Bangladesh

• Pakistan

Meanwhile, futsal giants Iran, Japan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan will be aiming to maintain their perfect record, having appeared in every single edition of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup.

Rankings-Based Seeding Introduced

For the first time ever, the draw seeding will be determined using the latest FIFA Futsal Men’s World Rankings (as of April 4, 2025). Teams have been split into four pots, with an additional Hosts Pot to reflect centralised venues.

Pot Allocation Highlights:

Pot 1 (Top Seeds)

• Iran (5)

• Thailand (11)

• Japan (13)

• Uzbekistan (23)

• Vietnam (31)

• Afghanistan (33)

• Kuwait (40)

• Iraq (41)

Pot 2 includes rising sides like Saudi Arabia (50), Australia (52), and Lebanon (53), while Pot 3 features China PR (79), Chinese Taipei (82), and the UAE (97). Pot 4 is home to lower-ranked or unranked nations such as Hong Kong, Palestine, India, and debutants Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Hosts Pot reflects the designated hosts for each group, including Thailand, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and China PR, ensuring geographic diversity and balanced competition.

Where and When to Watch

Fans can follow the live draw on Thursday, June 26 at 3pm, where the journey toward the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 will officially begin.

From powerhouses to newcomers, the stage is set for a dramatic and unpredictable campaign. Let the road to Indonesia begin.