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AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2026: Groups, Schedule, Table and Results

AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2026: Groups, Schedule, Table and Results

AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2026: Groups, Schedule, Table AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2026: Groups, Schedule, Table
Image: AFC

The final round of AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification (often referred to as the 2026 qualifiers) features six groups of four teams each, with only the group winners advancing to the finals. The group compositions, schedule, current standings, and match results are as follows:

Groups

The six groups (A–F) were decided by draw in December 2024. The teams in each group are:

  • Group A: Tajikistan, Philippines, Maldives, Timor-Leste
  • Group B: Lebanon, Yemen, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Group C: Bangladesh, India, Hong Kong China, Singapore
  • Group D: Thailand, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka
  • Group E: Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan
  • Group F: Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Laos

Each group plays a double round-robin (home-and-away) format.

Schedule

The final-round matches are played in six matchdays between 25 March 2025 and 31 March 2026. Matchday 1 took place on 25–26 March 2025, and Matchday 2 on 10 June 2025 (with other matchdays in October/November 2025, and March 2026). For example, Bangladesh began the campaign with an away match at India on 25 March 2025.

Matchdays (all dates UTC) include:

  • MD1: 25–26 March 2025 (12 matches)
  • MD2: 9–10 June 2025 (12 matches)
  • MD3: 9–10 October 2025
  • MD4: 14–18 October 2025
  • MD5: 18 November 2025
  • MD6: 30–31 March 2026

(Only the first two matchdays have been played as of June 2025.)

Standings (After MD1)

After the opening matchday (25–26 March 2025), the group standings are:

  • Group A: Philippines and Tajikistan each won their opener, so both have 3 points; Maldives and Timor-Leste lost and have 0 points.
  • Group B: Lebanon beat Brunei (5-0) to lead with 3 points, while Bhutan and Yemen drew 0-0 and have 1 point each; Brunei has 0 points.
  • Group C: All four teams drew on MD1 (Singapore 0-0 Hong Kong, India 0-0 Bangladesh), so all have 1 match, 0 points.
  • Group D: Thailand beat Sri Lanka 1-0 and Turkmenistan beat Chinese Taipei 2-1, so Thailand and Turkmenistan have 3 points each; Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei have 0.
  • Group E: Myanmar defeated Afghanistan 2-1 and Syria beat Pakistan 2-0; Myanmar and Syria have 3 points each, Afghanistan and Pakistan have 0.
  • Group F: Vietnam won 5-0 over Laos and Malaysia won 2-0 at Nepal; Vietnam and Malaysia have 3 points each; Nepal and Laos have 0.

Results (Matchday 1)

The Matchday 1 results (25–26 Mar 2025) for all groups were:

  • 25 Mar 2025: Philippines 4–1 Maldives (Group A)
  • 25 Mar 2025: Tajikistan 1–0 Timor-Leste (Group A)
  • 25 Mar 2025: Bhutan 0–0 Yemen (Group B)
  • 25 Mar 2025: Lebanon 5–0 Brunei Darussalam (Group B)
  • 25 Mar 2025: Singapore 0–0 Hong Kong, China(Group C)
  • 26 Mar 2025: India 0–0 Bangladesh (Group C)
  • 25 Mar 2025: Thailand 1–0 Sri Lanka (Group D)
  • 25 Mar 2025: Chinese Taipei 1–2 Turkmenistan (Group D)
  • 25 Mar 2025: Myanmar 2–1 Afghanistan (Group E)
  • 26 Mar 2025: Syria 2–0 Pakistan (Group E)
  • 25 Mar 2025: Vietnam 5–0 Laos (Group F)
  • 26 Mar 2025: Malaysia 2–0 Nepal (Group F)

Each result above is confirmed by AFC match reports. In summary, 12 matches were played on MD1, producing the standings shown above.

Results (Matchday 2)

The Matchday 2 results (9–10 Jun 2025) for all groups are:

GroupResult
ATimor‑Leste 1–0 Maldives
DSri Lanka 3–1 Chinese Taipei
EMyanmar 1–0 Pakistan
BBrunei vs Bhutan (result yet to confirm as of June 10)
BYemen vs Lebanon (played, result pending)
CHong Kong vs India – ongoing during updates (0–0 at half-time)
CBangladesh vs Singapore – fixture listed, no official score yet
FLaos vs Nepal – scheduled but result not published yet
FMalaysia vs Vietnam – scheduled (no confirmed result)

Tables

The list below summarize each group after Matchday 1 (Pld = played, W/D/L = win/draw/loss, GF/GA = goals for/against, GD = goal difference, Pts = points):

Group A

  • Philippines: Pld 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 4, GA 1, GD +3, Pts 3
  • Tajikistan: Pld 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 1, GA 0, GD +1, Pts 3
  • Timor‑Leste: Pld 2, W 1, D 0, L 1, GF 1, GA 1, GD 0, Pts 3
  • Maldives: Pld 2, W 0, D 0, L 2, GF 1, GA 5, GD ‑4, Pts 0

Group B

  • Lebanon: Pld 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 5, GA 0, GD +5, Pts 3
  • Yemen: Pld 1, W 0, D 1, L 0, GF 0, GA 0, GD 0, Pts 1
  • Bhutan: Pld 1, W 0, D 1, L 0, GF 0, GA 0, GD 0, Pts 1
  • Brunei Darussalam: Pld 1, W 0, D 0, L 1, GF 0, GA 5, GD ‑5, Pts 0

Group C

(Matchday 2 not yet included)

  • Bangladesh: Pld 1, W 0, D 1, L 0, GF 0, GA 0, GD 0, Pts 1
  • Hong Kong: Pld 1, W 0, D 1, L 0, GF 0, GA 0, GD 0, Pts 1
  • India: Pld 1, W 0, D 1, L 0, GF 0, GA 0, GD 0, Pts 1
  • Singapore: Pld 1, W 0, D 1, L 0, GF 0, GA 0, GD 0, Pts 1

Group D

  • Turkmenistan: Pld 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 2, GA 1, GD +1, Pts 3
  • Thailand: Pld 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 1, GA 0, GD +1, Pts 3
  • Sri Lanka: Pld 2, W 1, D 0, L 1, GF 3, GA 2, GD +1, Pts 3
  • Chinese Taipei: Pld 2, W 0, D 0, L 2, GF 2, GA 4, GD ‑2, Pts 0

Group E

  • Syria: Pld 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 2, GA 0, GD +2, Pts 3
  • Myanmar: Pld 2, W 2, D 0, L 0, GF 3, GA 1, GD +2, Pts 6
  • Afghanistan: Pld 1, W 0, D 0, L 1, GF 1, GA 2, GD ‑1, Pts 0
  • Pakistan: Pld 2, W 0, D 0, L 2, GF 0, GA 3, GD ‑3, Pts 0

Group F

(Matchday 2 not yet included)

  • Vietnam: Pld 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 5, GA 0, GD +5, Pts 3
  • Malaysia: Pld 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 2, GA 0, GD +2, Pts 3
  • Nepal: Pld 1, W 0, D 0, L 1, GF 0, GA 2, GD ‑2, Pts 0
  • Laos: Pld 1, W 0, D 0, L 1, GF 0, GA 5, GD ‑5, Pts 0

Sources: Official AFC reports and fixtures for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round, and group draw announcements.

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