April 28 – The qualifying group stage draw for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 saw 33 teams divided into seven groups of four teams and one group of five.
The centralised groups will be played August 2-10 with the eight group winners and three best runners-up qualifying for the finals to be played in Thailand, April 1-18, 2026.It is the second time Thailand has hosted the tournament.
Current holders North Korea, who won the title in March 2024 in Uzbekistan, headline the five-team Group A alongside hosts Bhutan. Nepal, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia, competing in their first AFC U20 Women’s competition, make up the group.
Hosts Vietnam, Kyrgyz Republic, Hong Kong, China and Singapore are the teams drawn in Group B.
Australia, third in 2024, Chinese Taipei, Palestine and hosts Tajikistan meet in Group C with hosts Myanmar, India, Indonesia and Turkmenistan the Group D hopefuls.
Group E will see a showdown between hosts and former champions China – who are bidding for their 12th appearance in the finals – Lebanon, Cambodia and Syria with six-time champions and 2024 finalists Japan, , hosts Malaysia and Guam drawn in Group F.
Group G action will feature hosts Uzbekistan, Jordan, Northern Mariana Islands and Bahrain while the race for the sole automatic ticket from Group H will be between former champions South Korea, Bangladesh, hosts Laos and Timor-Leste.
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Timor Leste and Turkmenistan are all attempting to make their maiden appearance in the Finals.
An eight team competition in 2024, it has been expanded to 12 in 2026.
DRAW RESULT
Group A: DPR Korea, Nepal, Bhutan (H), Mongolia, Saudi Arabia
Group B: Vietnam (H), Kyrgyz Republic, Hong Kong, China, Singapore,
Group C: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Palestine, Tajikistan (H)
Group D: Myanmar (H), India, Indonesia, Turkmenistan
Group E: China PR (H), Lebanon, Cambodia, Syria
Group F: Japan, IR Iran, Malaysia (H), Guam
Group G: Uzbekistan (H), Jordan, Northern Mariana Islands, Bahrain
Group H: Korea Republic, Bangladesh, Laos (H), Timor Leste
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