Kathmandu: Nepal were drawn in Group ‘F’ in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers along with hosts Tajikistan, Syria and the Philippines. 

Altogether 44 Asian sides were drawn into 11 groups of four teams each for the Qualifiers to take place from September 1-9, 2025, at the draw held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday.

The 11 group winners and four best-ranked runners-up will join Saudi Arabia, the hosts for the finals to take place in January next year. 

South Asian giants India were drawn in Group ‘H’ alongside hosts Qatar, Bahrain and Brunei. Group ‘A’ consists of hosts Jordan, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei and Bhutan while two-time champions Japan, Kuwait, hosts Myanmar and Afghanistan will square off in Group ‘B’.

Group ‘C’ will see hosts Vietnam, Yemen, Singapore and Bangladesh vying to earn tickets for the finals while Australia, hosts China, Timor-Leste and Northern Mariana Islands will battle it out in Group ‘D’. Group ‘E’ were studded with 2018 winners Uzbekistan, Palestine, hosts Kyrgyz Republic and Sri Lanka while Group ‘F’ saw hosts Thailand drawn alongside Malaysia, Lebanon and Mongolia.

Former champions Iraq will fancy their chances in Group ‘G’ battling it out with hosts Cambodia, Oman and Pakistan.

Group ‘I’ will see exciting battles between hosts UAE, Iran, Hong Kong, China and Guam. The 2020 edition champions Korea along with hosts Indonesia, Laos and Macau will compete in Group ‘J’.  

Draw Result

Group A: Jordan (H), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan

Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (H), Afghanistan

Group C: Vietnam (H), Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh

Group D: Australia, China PR (H), Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands

Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Sri Lanka

Group F: Thailand (H), Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia

Group G: Iraq, Cambodia (H), Oman, Pakistan

Group H: Qatar (H), Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam

Group I: UAE (H), IR Iran, Hong Kong, China, Guam

Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia (H), Laos, Macau

Group K: Tajikistan (H), Syria, Philippines, Nepal