NEW DELHI: India were drawn with Uzbekistan, Australia and DPR Korea in Group D of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 in the Final Draw held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The tournament will take place from May 5 to 22. India qualified for the AFC U17 Asian Cup for the 10th time in history after finishing ahead of Iran, Lebanon, Palestine and Chinese Taipei in the qualifiers. The Blue Colts will begin their campaign against Australia, followed by Uzbekistan and DPR Korea.
Uzbekistan is the defending champion and thus automatically qualifies for the tournament. Australia were eliminated in the group stage of the 2025 edition and qualified for the 2026 tournament after victories over Jordan, Bhutan, and the Philippines.
Two-time champions DPR Korea were semi-finalists in 2025 and thus automatically qualified for the current edition.
In Group A, hosts Saudi Arabia were drawn alongside Tajikistan, Thailand, and Myanmar. Group B contains Japan, Indonesia, China PR and Qatar. Group C has the Republic of Korea, Yemen, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
The top two sides from each group will progress to the quarter-finals and also qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2026.
AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Draw Lists:
Group A: Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Myanmar
Group B: Japan, Indonesia, China PR, Qatar
Group C: Korea Republic, Yemen, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates
Group D:Uzbekistan, Australia, India, DPR Korea.
India were also drawn alongside Japan, Australia, and Lebanon in Group B of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 during the Final Draw held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Having qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in 21 years after defeating Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan, the Young Tigresses will open their campaign against Australia, followed by matches against Japan and Lebanon. The tournament will take place from May 1 to 17.
Japan were runners-up in 2024 and thus qualified automatically for the tournament. They are four-time winners of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup and also FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup champions in 2014 and runners-up in 2010 and 2016.
Australia were eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 edition and qualified for the 2026 tournament after victories over Singapore and the Northern Mariana Islands. On the other hand, Lebanon will make its debut, having qualified for its first tournament with wins over Kuwait and Iran.
In Group A, hosts China were drawn alongside Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Group C contains DPR Korea, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Chinese Taipei.
The AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 will be held in Suzhou, at the Suzhou Sports Centre Stadium and the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre.
The top two sides from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. The four semi-finalists will qualify for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, where DPR Korea are the current holder.
