(Photo AFC)
The journey to reach the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 kicks off on October 13 for 26 teams as they target a berth at the expanded Finals.
Eight places are available through the Qualifiers at the 10th edition of the competition, which will feature 12 teams—four more than at each of the previous four editions.
The qualifying cast were split into eight groups in August and only the group winners will progress to China 2026, where they join the four AFC representatives from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025 who have automatically qualified: DPR Korea, Japan, Korea Republic and hosts China PR.
To be contested in a single round-robin centralised league format, the eighth Qualifiers will feature 11 teams aiming to qualify for their first Finals: Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Northern Mariana Islands, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kuwait, Macau, Saudi Arabia and Syria; the last four teams are also making their Qualifiers debut.
The first matchday gets underway in Dushanbe’s Republican Central Stadium, which will stage Group A, as the Philippines, seeking a second qualification at their eighth attempt after making their debut in 2024, take on Syria. Hosts Tajikistan then welcome Malaysia for their clash, with each contesting their third and fourth Qualifiers respectively.
The Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium in Al Khobar provides the backdrop for Group B, where Lebanon—in their third Qualifiers—take on Kuwait, before hosts Saudi Arabia battle the Islamic Republic of Iran—involved in their 7th Qualifiers and aiming for a third Finals.
Following the withdrawal of Mongolia, Group C will see three teams face off in Yangon. The opening fixture pits 2024 hosts Indonesia—targeting a third Finals—against Macau at the Padaythar Football Stadium. Myanmar hope to end a 17-year absence from their 2009 debut with success in their eighth Qualifiers, with Macau serving as their first opponents on October 15 at the Thuwunna Stadium.
The trio in Group D are each playing in a sixth Qualifiers and will square off at the Binh Duong Stadium. Vietnam commence their campaign, hoping to add to their sole Finals appearance from 2019, on home soil against a Guam side that has been involved in two previous Finals, with the last coming in 2013. On October 15, Guam face a Hong Kong, China side looking for a first return to the Finals since their 2005 debut.
Taking part in a fourth Qualifiers, the Northern Mariana Islands are aiming to notch their first-ever point when they start their Group E journey at the Bishan Stadium against Australia, who are targeting an eighth Finals. Hosts Singapore, who have not made the Finals since their 2005 debut, then start their quest on October 15 against the Northern Mariana Islands.
The only team in the Qualifiers to have featured at every Finals to date, Thailand are targeting a 10th outing as they prepare for their Group F campaign, on home soil at the Chonburi Stadium against a Turkmenistan side targeting a first-ever point in their second qualifying involvement. Nepal swing into action on October 15, starting their third Qualifiers journey against Turkmenistan.
Group G hosts Krygyz Republic are entering their fourth Qualifiers, which takes place at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek with an opening showdown against India, who are in their eighth Qualifiers and eyeing to add to their sole Finals showing from 2005. Uzbekistan, looking to make the Finals for a third time and first since 2015, are in their seventh Qualifiers and will take on the Krygyz Republic on October 15.
Hunting a second Finals appearance after their 2013 debut, Jordan ignite their seventh qualifying campaign at home in Group H against Bangladesh at the Aqaba Stadium, with the latter’s most recent Finals—their third appearance—coming in 2019. On October 15, Chinese Taipei take to the pitch against Jordan to begin their eighth Qualifiers, with a fifth Finals involvement—and first since 2015—on their minds.
