Asian Games
With the Women’s competition to kick-off the action on Monday, the-AFC.com previews the upcoming football festival.
Men
Group A: Japan, Thailand, Kyrgyz Republic, Hong Kong, China
Group B: China PR, United Arab Emirates, IR Iran, DPR Korea
Group C: Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Kuwait
Group D: Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
Host Japan, the reigning AFC U23 Asian Cup™ champions, will start as favourites in Group A with the experienced head coach Go Oiwa at the helm.
While midfielder Ryunosuke Sato is not part of the squad, Japan are still talent laden with four European-based players as well as Kawasaki Frontale star Yuto Ozeki to power them, leaving Thailand, Kyrgyz Republic and Hong Kong, China to battle it out for the other knockout stage spot from the group.
As runners-up of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026, China PR will be keen to ensure the progress shown in reaching their first continental final will not go to waste and head coach Antonio Puche has retained the bulk of the squad for their challenge in Group B.
Goalkeeper Li Hao is the obvious star but Puche has also included three over-age players in Zhu Chenjie, Wu Xi and Zhang Yuning to ensure that China PR are able to best United Arab Emirates, Islamic Republic of Iran and DPR Korea for one of the two quarter-final spots on offer.
Over in the Group C, Vietnam will take plenty of confidence from their run to the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup but even without the enigmatic Nguyen Dinh Bac up front, head coach Dinh Hong Vinh will aim to go deep in the tournament.
A disappointing quarter-final exit at Saudi Arabia 2026 means a wounded Uzbekistan - powered by Mukhammadali Urinboev - will be doubly determined to impress with the Philippines and Kuwait also in the group.
In Group D, head coach Lee Min-sung has defending champions Korea Republic on the hunt to retain their gold medal with eight players in their squad currently plying their trade in Europe.
Iraq’s withdrawal left the group with only three teams and with Saudi Arabia and Qatar also opting not to use any overage players, it looks to be an open contest to reach the knockout stage.
Women
Group E: Japan, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Thailand
Group F: Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Bangladesh, Myanmar
Group G: China PR, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, China
AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ champions Japan headline Group E but despite a much-changed squad and new head coach in Kano Michihasa, should still prove too strong for Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and Thailand.
There is still plenty of experience in the squad even without their European-based players, with Yui Narumiya and Yuzuho Shiokoshi to spearhead their defence.
A titanic tussle is on the cards in Group F with Korea Republic and DPR Korea retaining most of their players from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, with the likes of Ji So-yun and Kim Kyong Yong spearheading their respective challenges.
The opportunity to advance is there for Bangladesh and Myanmar with the two best third-placed teams also getting a ticket to the quarter-finals.
China PR will be confident of taking one the two automatic spots from Group G as head coach Ante Milicic looks to build on their encouraging semi-final run at Australia 2026.
Philippines, under Mark Torcaso, and Kotryna Kulbyte’s Uzbekistan will battle it out to take the other automatic spot while Hong Kong, China could spring a surprise, having twice defeated Fiji in international friendlies played in June.
Photo: Vietnam Football Federation
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