Star-Studded AFC U23 Asia Cup 2026 Draw: Saudi Arabia Set to Dazzle at Home as Groups Take Shape
2 octobre 2025
Draw overview and group composition
The AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 draw took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking Saudi Arabia’s first time hosting the event.
Sixteen teams were divided into four groups, with the tournament scheduled from January 6 to 25, 2026.
Saudi Arabia, the defending champions from 2022, were placed in Group A alongside Vietnam, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan.
In Group B, Japan, the tournament’s most decorated side, face a strong Arab quartet: Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Syria.
Group C pits Uzbekistan, South Korea, Iran, and Lebanon in what promises to be a hard-fought set of clashes.
Group D brings Iraq, Australia, Thailand, and China into the mix.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout rounds, with the final scheduled for January 25, 2026.
Hosts, venues, and legacy
The matches will be staged in Jeddah and Riyadh, with venues including the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah hosting ten games, including the opener and final, while the King Abdullah Sports City complex plus another Riyadh venue will host the rest.
A quick look at seedings shows Saudi at the top tier as hosts, joined by Uzbekistan, Japan, and Iraq, while Korea, Vietnam, Australia, and Qatar occupy the second tier.
The third tier features Thailand, Jordan, UAE, and Iran, and the bottom tier includes China, Syria, plus newcomers Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon.
This edition is notable for Saudi Arabia hosting for the first time, automatically qualifying as hosts alongside 15 other teams that advanced through qualifying.
Historically, the competition has been won by Iraq, Japan, Uzbekistan, Korea, and Saudi Arabia, with Japan the only two-time champion (2016, 2024) and Vietnam reaching the final but never lifting the trophy.
All-time participants who have appeared in every edition include Australia, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan.
The Saudi campaign is powered by the hosting narrative, aiming to showcase organizational and sporting strengths as part of Vision 2030, cementing the kingdom as a regional sports hub.
The AFC views the U23 championship as a key barometer for Olympic preparation and a pipeline for future senior national teams, while offering a platform for emerging stars to rise to the world’s elite leagues.
Saudi's 2022 title, won in Tashkent against Uzbekistan, continues to fuel motivation as a host nation, and the prospect of home crowds adds extra encouragement.
Saudi Arabia is also set to host the 2026 AFC Champions League finals and the U17 Asia Cup finals, further underscoring the kingdom’s growing role in continental football.
And yes, if group-stage drama isn’t your thing, the snacks probably will be. Also, remember: in football as in life, the ball always finds a way to bounce—so bring your umbrella for the unpredictable weather of football fate.
