AFC Futsal Asian Cup
The cast of 31 is the joint-largest since a qualification phase was introduced starting from the 2006 edition and 15 spots at the 18th Finals are on offer, to be filled by the eight group winners and seven best-ranked runners-up. They will be joined by Indonesia, who have automatically qualified as hosts and will stage the tournament for the second time after first doing so in 2002.
Two teams—Bangladesh and Pakistan—will make their Qualifiers debut, while three more sides—India, Mongolia and Timor-Leste—are aiming to feature at the Finals for the first time.
At the other end of the spectrum, powerhouse quartet Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Thailand and Uzbekistan are looking to extend their record of appearing in every Finals to date.
The first matchday kicks off with action from Group E at the Linping Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, where Vietnam, aiming for their eighth Finals appearance, begin their campaign at 3.30pm against Hong Kong, China, who are hoping to return to the Finals for a sixth time and first since 2007. At 7.30pm, Lebanon face hosts China PR, each seeking a 13th and 14th Finals appearance respectively.
In Group G, defending champions IR Iran—record 13-time winners and the only team never to finish outside the top three—face Bangladesh at 4pm at the Stadium Tertutup Sukpa in Kuantan. At 8pm, hosts Malaysia, aiming for a 13th Finals involvement, take on the United Arab Emirates, whose sole appearance came in 2012 as hosts.
Group B unfolds at Thailand’s Nonthaburi Stadium at 4.30pm where 1999 runners-up Korea Republic, hunting a 16th Finals appearance, face a Bahrain side looking for their fifth. Three-time runners-up Thailand then take to the court at 7.30pm against Brunei Darussalam, who made their Finals debut in 2002 and are contesting their sixth Qualifiers.
At the MFF Futsal Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Group H begins at 4pm with Maldives, aiming for a third Finals appearance and first since 2005, taking on Afghanistan, who reached the last eight on their debut in 2024. Hosts Myanmar then enter the fray two days later on September 22 in search of a third Finals involvement with a 4pm kick-off against Maldives.
The KFU National Football Academy Sports Compound in Bishkek provides the backdrop for Group F, which sees four-time runners-up Uzbekistan—who have won all nine of their qualifying matches to date—face Palestine at 4pm, with the latter aiming to end an absence that stretches back to their third Finals appearance in 2005. In the evening 8pm showdown, Kyrgyz Republic run out in front of a home crowd in search of a 17th Finals showing as they take on Timor-Leste, who are playing in their fourth Qualifiers.
Four-time champions Japan can extend their perfect record to 10 in the Qualifiers when they open Group C at the Dushanbe Indoor Hall at 5pm against Cambodia, who are seeking a second Finals appearance after their 2004 debut. Later at 8pm, hosts Tajikistan—eyeing a 13th Finals involvement—face Macau, whose fourth and most recent Finals showing came in 2005.
The Qushaian Al-Mutairi Hall in Ardiya will put on the matches in Group A, starting at 4pm as Australia, targeting a ninth Finals appearance, meet Mongolia. Hosts Kuwait, seeking a 14th involvement, kickstart their Qualifiers at 8pm against India, who are hoping to earn their first-ever point in their second Qualifiers.
Finally, Group D’s fixtures have been rescheduled to be played between October 18 and 22 and will be hosted at the Prince Nayef Sports Hall in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The opening two matches will feature Iraq—involved in the Finals on 12 previous occasions—against Pakistan at 3pm, followed by Saudi Arabia, who have their sights set on making a fourth Finals, taking on a Chinese Taipei outfit targeting a 14th Finals at 6pm.
All times indicated are in respective local times.
*Group D information updated on September 22.
