AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifying

About AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifying

History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

The AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifying is the qualifying tournament held by the Asian Football Confederation for the quadrennial AFC U-23 Asian Cup (previously known as the AFC U-23 Championship). Sixteen teams participate in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, meaning no more than 15 spots are available in the qualifying tournament.

This competition is open to all AFC member nations, although some typically do not participate each year. While the host nation is guaranteed a place in the finals, they normally compete in the qualifiers as well. In such cases, their matches are treated as friendlies, and the results do not affect point totals, group rankings, or the identification of the best second-placed teams.

The teams are divided into 11 groups, which can vary in size from three to four teams due to participant numbers and occasional late withdrawals. When groups have uneven numbers, results against the fourth-placed side in four-member groups are disregarded when determining the best runners-up.

The qualifiers follow a single round-robin format, with countries in the same group playing each other once at a centralized venue. The 11 group winners qualify for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup and are joined by four best runners-up.

Previously, teams were categorized into zones for the group draw, but the AFC abolished this format in 2024 following a recommendation from the AFC Competitions Committee.