The draw for the qualifiers will take place on August 7, 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 38 Countries participating in the qualifiers will be drawn into seven groups (three groups of six teams and four groups of five teams each).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The group winners will qualify for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026, joining nine participating AFC teams in the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025, who have already directly qualified for the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said, \u201cIt is a matter of great pride for India to be among the hosts of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers, and I am particularly pleased to see Ahmedabad take centre stage. This is an excellent opportunity for our boys to perform on home soil, and for the city of Ahmedabad to showcase its capability to host elite international competitions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I wish our boys the very best, and sincerely hope that they qualify for the AFC U17 Asian Cup, which serves as the gateway to the FIFA U17 World Cup, and take another important step forward in Indian football\u2019s long-term development pathway,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Harsh Sanghavi, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs of Gujarat, said, \u201cThis is a proud moment for Indian football and Gujarat. It\u2019s an opportunity for the state to showcase its love for the beautiful game, its world-class hospitality, and our rising football culture. Hosting a prestigious event such as this will position Ahmedabad on the Asian football map.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 38 teams competing in the qualifiers have been divided into six pots based on the seeding and pot allocation principle, which takes into account the team's performance in the last three tournaments (2025, 2023, and 2018).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While India are in Pot 2, they will be placed in an additional Hosts Pot for the purpose of the draw to ensure all hosts are drawn in separate groups. China PR, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Kyrgyz Republic, and Jordan are the other six hosts that cannot be drawn into India's group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pots for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers Draw:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pot 1: Australia, Yemen, IR Iran, Oman, Thailand<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pot 2: Afghanistan, Malaysia, Iraq, Bangladesh, Laos, Kuwait<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pot 3: Singapore, Bahrain, Philippines, Turkmenistan, Palestine<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pot 4: Syria, Mongolia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Brunei Darussalam<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pot 5: Nepal, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Maldives, Timor-Leste, Lebanon<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pot 6: Macau, Sri Lanka, Pakistan<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hosts Pot: China PR, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Myanmar, Kyrgyz Republic, Jordan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pot 6: Macau, Sri Lanka, Pakistan<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Venue: The Arena, Ahmedabad<\/p>\r\n\r\n