Cambodia will take on Pakistan in their opening Group B match as the Kingdom looks to secure their place at the AFC U17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next year.
The qualifiers begins this Saturday as 38 sides look to secure their places in the 21st edition of the Finals.
Only the seven group winners from the Qualifiers will progress and join the nine AFC representatives from the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 that have already qualified: Qatar, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Japan, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia.
Cambodia will be among the 13 nations that will do battle in a single round-robin centralised league format, are aiming to reach the Finals for the first time.
The other countries looking to make their first Asia Cup include Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Chinese Taipei, Guam, Lebanon, Macau, Maldives, Mongolia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palestine, Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Besides Pakistan, Cambodia’s will be up against Yemen, Laos, Kyrgyzstan and Guam.
Group A
Eyeing a seventh Finals appearance and first since 2006, Bangladesh start their quest at the Tonglianglong Stadium in Chongqing, China against Timor-Leste, whose sole qualification came in 2010.
Brunei Darussalam and Sri Lanka, taking part in the Qualifiers for a 10th and ninth occasion respectively, play against each other in their opening tie.
Two-time champions (1992, 2004) and hosts China PR—seeking a 17th Finals appearance will face a Bahrain side aiming to reach an eighth Finals and first since 2008.
Group B
Both participating in their 14th Qualifiers, Laos and Guam meet at the Alga Sports Complex Stadium in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, with the former targeting a fourth Finals appearance.
Kyrgyz Republic kick off their campaign for a second Finals showing, since their 2016 debut, at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium against a Yemen side that has reached the Finals on seven occasions.
Cambodia, contesting their 10th Qualifiers, will be looking for a winning start against Pakistan, whose only Finals appearance came in 2002.
Group C
Hong Kong, China’s sole Finals involvement came in 2014 and their bid for a second starts with an opener against Macau, hoping to notch their first-ever point in qualifying, at the Vietnam YFTC Field in Hanoi.
Also looking to pick up their first point in their sixth Qualifiers are the Northern Mariana Islands, who open their campaign against Malaysia, who are aiming to reach their seventh Finals.
Vietnam take to the pitch, with a 10th Finals appearance and fifth in a row on their minds—to face Singapore, whose most recent qualification, their second, came way back in 2008.
Group D
Taking part in the Qualifiers for the 10th and 16th time respectively, Lebanon and Chinese Taipei will do battle at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad, India.
Palestine and hosts India follow suit, with the latter targeting a 10th qualification.
Chinese Taipei will face 2008 champions Islamic Republic of Iran, who are gunning for a 14th Finals appearance and 11th in a row , in their opening tie.
Group E
Bhutan go in search of their maiden qualifying win at the Aqaba Stadium against hosts Jordan, who last appeared in the Finals in 2018 and will hope to make it to a fourth on home soil.
Philippines commence their 13th Qualifiers campaign against 2016 champions Iraq, who made the last of their ten prior Final involvements in 2018.
Jordan will be back in action later the same week, against Australia, who are aiming to notch nine successive qualifications in a row.
Group F
Turkmenistan’s goal of a second Finals appearance after their 2008 debut starts at the Chonburi Stadium against Kuwait, who are hoping to add to their five Finals showings, with the last coming in 2014.
The Maldives and Mongolia, contest the Qualifiers for a 13th and 10th occasion respectively.
Thailand, the 1998 champions who are targeting a sixth consecutive qualification and 14th overall, begin their quest on home ground against Mongolia.
Group G
The Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon will be the platform for hosts Myanmar to kickstart their journey towards a fifth Finals appearance and first since 2006, with their opponents Afghanistan seeking a fourth showing after qualifying for each of the last three editions.
Nepal and Syria were both last involved in the Finals in 2014, and a fourth and seventh qualification respectively is at stake in their showdown.
Two-time winners Oman, who have 11 Finals appearances under their belt, start their qualification campaign against Syria.
