2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:54:27 PM Wikipedia source
The 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification was an international men's under-23 football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. A total of 16 teams qualified to play in the final tournament, including Saudi Arabia who qualified automatically as host country.
Infobox
Host countries
Jordan (Group A)Myanmar (Group B)Vietnam (Group C)China (Group D)Kyrgyzstan (Group E)Thailand (Group F)Cambodia (Group G)Qatar (Group H)United Arab Emirates (Group I)Indonesia (Group J)Tajikistan (Group K)
Dates
3–9 September 2025
Teams
44 (from 1 confederation)
Venue
11 (in 11 host cities)
Matches played
66
Goals scored
271 (4.11 per match)
Top scorer(s)
Nathanael Blair Odeh Al-Fakhouri Kasra Taheri(5 goals)
Tables
· Draw
Host pot
Host pot
Col 1
Host pot
Pot 1
mw- .mw- Vietnam (5) Qatar (7) Thailand (8) Jordan (9) Tajikistan (10) United Arab Emirates (11)
Pot 2
Indonesia (12) China (17) Cambodia (22)
Pot 3
Myanmar (23) Kyrgyzstan (26)
Remaining Teams
Remaining Teams
Col 1
Remaining Teams
Pot 1
Uzbekistan (1) Japan (2) Iraq (3) South Korea (4) Australia (6)
Pot 2
Kuwait (13) Iran (14) Turkmenistan (15) Malaysia (16) Bahrain (18) Palestine (19) Syria (20) Yemen (21)
Pot 3
Oman (24) Singapore (25) India (27) Lebanon (28) Laos (29) Timor-Leste (30) Chinese Taipei (31) Philippines (32) Hong Kong (33)
Pot 4
Afghanistan (34) Bangladesh (35) Mongolia (36) Guam (37) Pakistan (38) Macau (39) Nepal (40) Brunei (41) Sri Lanka (42) Bhutan (43) Northern Mariana Islands (44)
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 | |
| Host pot | mw- Vietnam (5) Qatar (7) Thailand (8) Jordan (9) Tajikistan (10) United Arab Emirates (11) | Indonesia (12) China (17) Cambodia (22) | Myanmar (23) Kyrgyzstan (26) | |
| Remaining Teams | Uzbekistan (1) Japan (2) Iraq (3) South Korea (4) Australia (6) | Kuwait (13) Iran (14) Turkmenistan (15) Malaysia (16) Bahrain (18) Palestine (19) Syria (20) Yemen (21) | Oman (24) Singapore (25) India (27) Lebanon (28) Laos (29) Timor-Leste (30) Chinese Taipei (31) Philippines (32) Hong Kong (33) | Afghanistan (34) Bangladesh (35) Mongolia (36) Guam (37) Pakistan (38) Macau (39) Nepal (40) Brunei (41) Sri Lanka (42) Bhutan (43) Northern Mariana Islands (44) |
· Draw
Maldives North Korea
Maldives North Korea
Did not enter
Maldives North Korea
| Did not enter |
| Maldives North Korea |
· Groups › Group A
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Jordan (H)
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
19
GA
1
GD
+18
Pts
9
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Turkmenistan
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
8
GA
3
GD
+5
Pts
6
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Bhutan
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
3
GA
14
GD
−11
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Chinese Taipei
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
2
GA
14
GD
−12
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Jordan (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | +18 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Turkmenistan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 6 | |
| 3 | Bhutan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 3 | |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | −12 | 0 |
· Groups › Group B
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Japan
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
11
GA
2
GD
+9
Pts
9
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Kuwait
Pld
3
W
1
D
1
L
1
GF
2
GA
6
GD
−4
Pts
4
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Afghanistan
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
2
GA
5
GD
−3
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Myanmar (H)
Pld
3
W
0
D
1
L
2
GF
2
GA
4
GD
−2
Pts
1
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Kuwait | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 4 | |
| 3 | Afghanistan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Myanmar (H) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 |
· Groups › Group C
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Vietnam (H)
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
4
GA
0
GD
+4
Pts
9
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Yemen
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
3
GA
2
GD
+1
Pts
6
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Bangladesh
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
4
GA
4
GD
0
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Singapore
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
2
GA
7
GD
−5
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Vietnam (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Yemen | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Singapore | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 0 |
· Groups › Group D
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Australia
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
20
GA
0
GD
+20
Pts
7
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
China (H)
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
12
GA
1
GD
+11
Pts
7
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Timor-Leste
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
7
GA
8
GD
−1
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Northern Mariana Islands
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
0
GA
30
GD
−30
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | +20 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | China (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 7 | |
| 3 | Timor-Leste | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Northern Mariana Islands | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | −30 | 0 |
· Groups › Group E
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Kyrgyzstan (H)
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
10
GA
3
GD
+7
Pts
7
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Uzbekistan
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
8
GA
3
GD
+5
Pts
7
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Palestine
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
7
GA
4
GD
+3
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Sri Lanka
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
0
GA
15
GD
−15
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Kyrgyzstan (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 7 | |
| 3 | Palestine | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | −15 | 0 |
· Groups › Group F
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Thailand (H)
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
10
GA
3
GD
+7
Pts
7
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Lebanon
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
6
GA
2
GD
+4
Pts
7
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Malaysia
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
8
GA
3
GD
+5
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Mongolia
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
0
GA
16
GD
−16
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Thailand (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Lebanon | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 | |
| 3 | Malaysia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Mongolia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | −16 | 0 |
· Groups › Group G
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Iraq
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
9
GA
1
GD
+8
Pts
7
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Cambodia (H)
Pld
3
W
1
D
2
L
0
GF
1
GA
0
GD
+1
Pts
5
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Oman
Pld
3
W
1
D
1
L
1
GF
1
GA
1
GD
0
Pts
4
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Pakistan
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
1
GA
10
GD
−9
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iraq | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Cambodia (H) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Oman | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Pakistan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | −9 | 0 |
· Groups › Group H
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Qatar (H)
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
17
GA
2
GD
+15
Pts
9
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
India
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
9
GA
2
GD
+7
Pts
6
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Bahrain
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
11
GA
4
GD
+7
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Brunei
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
0
GA
29
GD
−29
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Qatar (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | +15 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | India | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 6 | |
| 3 | Bahrain | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 3 | |
| 4 | Brunei | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | −29 | 0 |
· Groups › Group I
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Iran
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
13
GA
2
GD
+11
Pts
9
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
United Arab Emirates (H)
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
17
GA
3
GD
+14
Pts
6
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Hong Kong
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
1
GA
6
GD
−5
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Guam
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
0
GA
20
GD
−20
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iran | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 3 | +14 | 6 | |
| 3 | Hong Kong | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Guam | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | −20 | 0 |
· Groups › Group J
1
1
Pos
1
Team
South Korea
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
13
GA
0
GD
+13
Pts
9
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Indonesia (H)
Pld
3
W
1
D
1
L
1
GF
5
GA
1
GD
+4
Pts
4
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Laos
Pld
3
W
1
D
1
L
1
GF
3
GA
8
GD
−5
Pts
4
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Macau
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
1
GA
13
GD
−12
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Indonesia (H) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 4 | |
| 3 | Laos | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 4 | |
| 4 | Macau | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | −12 | 0 |
· Groups › Group K
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Syria
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
7
GA
3
GD
+4
Pts
9
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Philippines
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
6
GA
2
GD
+4
Pts
6
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Tajikistan (H)
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
4
GA
2
GD
+2
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Nepal
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
2
GA
12
GD
−10
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Syria | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Philippines | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 | |
| 3 | Tajikistan (H) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Nepal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 | −10 | 0 |
· Ranking of second-placed teams
1
1
Pos
1
Grp
D
Team
China
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
12
GA
1
GD
+11
Pts
7
Qualification
Final tournament
2
2
Pos
2
Grp
E
Team
Uzbekistan
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
8
GA
3
GD
+5
Pts
7
3
3
Pos
3
Grp
F
Team
Lebanon
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
6
GA
2
GD
+4
Pts
7
4
4
Pos
4
Grp
I
Team
United Arab Emirates
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
17
GA
3
GD
+14
Pts
6
5
5
Pos
5
Grp
H
Team
India
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
9
GA
2
GD
+7
Pts
6
6
6
Pos
6
Grp
A
Team
Turkmenistan
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
8
GA
3
GD
+5
Pts
6
7
7
Pos
7
Grp
K
Team
Philippines
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
6
GA
2
GD
+4
Pts
6
8
8
Pos
8
Grp
C
Team
Yemen
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
3
GA
2
GD
+1
Pts
6
9
9
Pos
9
Grp
G
Team
Cambodia
Pld
3
W
1
D
2
L
0
GF
1
GA
0
GD
+1
Pts
5
10
10
Pos
10
Grp
J
Team
Indonesia
Pld
3
W
1
D
1
L
1
GF
5
GA
1
GD
+4
Pts
4
11
11
Pos
11
Grp
B
Team
Kuwait
Pld
3
W
1
D
1
L
1
GF
2
GA
6
GD
−4
Pts
4
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | D | China | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | E | Uzbekistan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 7 | |
| 3 | F | Lebanon | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 | |
| 4 | I | United Arab Emirates | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 3 | +14 | 6 | |
| 5 | H | India | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 6 | |
| 6 | A | Turkmenistan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 6 | |
| 7 | K | Philippines | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 | |
| 8 | C | Yemen | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | |
| 9 | G | Cambodia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 5 | |
| 10 | J | Indonesia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 4 | |
| 11 | B | Kuwait | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 4 |
· Qualified teams
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Team
Saudi Arabia
Method ofqualification
Hosts
Date ofqualification
1 July 2023
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2022)
Jordan
Jordan
Team
Jordan
Method ofqualification
Group A winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Third place (2013)
Japan
Japan
Team
Japan
Method ofqualification
Group B winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2016, 2024)
Vietnam
Vietnam
Team
Vietnam
Method ofqualification
Group C winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Runners-up (2018)
Australia
Australia
Team
Australia
Method ofqualification
Group D winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Third place (2020)
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Team
Kyrgyzstan
Method ofqualification
Group E winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
1
Last timequalified
—
Previous bestperformance
—
Thailand
Thailand
Team
Thailand
Method ofqualification
Group F winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Quarter-finals (2020)
Iraq
Iraq
Team
Iraq
Method ofqualification
Group G winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2013)
Qatar
Qatar
Team
Qatar
Method ofqualification
Group H winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Third place (2018)
Iran
Iran
Team
Iran
Method ofqualification
Group I winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
5
Last timequalified
2022
Previous bestperformance
Quarter-finals (2016)
South Korea
South Korea
Team
South Korea
Method ofqualification
Group J winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2020)
Syria
Syria
Team
Syria
Method ofqualification
Group K winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
5
Last timequalified
2020
Previous bestperformance
Quarter-finals (2013, 2020)
China
China
Team
China
Method ofqualification
Best runners-up
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Group stage (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024)
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Team
Uzbekistan
Method ofqualification
Second-best runners-up
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2018)
Lebanon
Lebanon
Team
Lebanon
Method ofqualification
Third-best runners-up
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
1
Last timequalified
—
Previous bestperformance
—
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
Team
United Arab Emirates
Method ofqualification
Fourth-best runners-up
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Quarter-finals (2013, 2016, 2020)
| Team | Method ofqualification | Date ofqualification | Total timesqualified | Last timequalified | Previous bestperformance |
| Saudi Arabia | Hosts | 1 July 2023 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2022) |
| Jordan | Group A winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Third place (2013) |
| Japan | Group B winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2016, 2024) |
| Vietnam | Group C winners | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Runners-up (2018) |
| Australia | Group D winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Third place (2020) |
| Kyrgyzstan | Group E winners | 9 September 2025 | 1 | — | — |
| Thailand | Group F winners | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Quarter-finals (2020) |
| Iraq | Group G winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2013) |
| Qatar | Group H winners | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Third place (2018) |
| Iran | Group I winners | 9 September 2025 | 5 | 2022 | Quarter-finals (2016) |
| South Korea | Group J winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2020) |
| Syria | Group K winners | 9 September 2025 | 5 | 2020 | Quarter-finals (2013, 2020) |
| China | Best runners-up | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Group stage (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024) |
| Uzbekistan | Second-best runners-up | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2018) |
| Lebanon | Third-best runners-up | 9 September 2025 | 1 | — | — |
| United Arab Emirates | Fourth-best runners-up | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Quarter-finals (2013, 2016, 2020) |
References
- The match, originally scheduled for 19:30, was delayed until 21:00 due to heavy rain.
- "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2025 - Jun 2026)"https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/calendars/AFC-Calendar-(Jul-2025-Jun-2026)-upd-11-Apr-2025.pdf
- "Asian Football Calendar (March 2025 – February 2026)"https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/football_calendar.html
- "马德兴：U23亚洲杯分档敲定，中国队二档身份难避种子强队"https://bbs.hupu.com/632345021.html
- the-afc.comhttps://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup.html/news/afcu23-draw-to-set-stage-for-saudi-arabia-2026-qualifiers
- "AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Competition Regulations"https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/tournament-regulations/15_May_2025_update/(Amended)-AFC-U23-Asian-Cup-Saudi-Arabia-2026-Competition-Regulations_nofax.pdf
- "AFC Competition Operations Manual (Edition 2023)"https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/miscellaneous-regulations/AFC-Competition-Operations-Manual-(Edition-2023).pdf