Taking place for a 23rd time since being introduced in 1980, this iteration of the qualification pathway offers 15 berths at next year’s Finals and sees the maiden implementation of a two-tiered format.

The Qualification Phase divides 31 teams across eight groups, with all group winners and the seven best second-placed teams advancing to join hosts China PR at the 43rd edition of the AFC U20 Asian Cup™. Meanwhile, the six lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams are relegated to the Development Phase of the next Qualifiers.

Concurrently, the Development Phase features 11 teams that are split into three groups, with the first and second-placed teams of each group to be promoted to the Qualification Phase of the next Qualifiers.

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