2035 AFC Asian Cup qualification
The 2035 AFC Asian Cup qualification process will be organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to determine the participating teams for the 21st edition of the AFC Asian Cup, scheduled for 2035. The qualification process will also serve as part of the Asian qualification pathway for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | TBD |
| Teams | TBD (from 1 confederation) |
| AFC Asian Qualifiers |
|---|
Qualification Format
The qualification structure is expected to follow a format similar to previous editions, such as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification, and will consist of multiple rounds. Teams will enter at different stages based on their FIFA rankings and past performances.
First Round
- Teams ranked 27th to 46th in the AFC rankings will participate in this round.
- These 20 teams will compete in home-and-away two-legged matches.
- The 10 winners will advance to the Second Round.
- The 3 best-ranked losing teams will advance to the Third Round of Asian Cup qualification.
- The 6 worst-ranked losing teams will advance to the Play-off Round.
Second Round
- A total of 36 teams will participate: the top 26 AFC teams and the 10 winners from the First Round.
- These teams will be divided into 9 groups of 4 teams each.
- Each group will engage in a double round-robin format, playing home-and-away matches.
- The winners and runners-up from each group will advance to the Third Round of FIFA World Cup qualification.
- Additionally, these 18 teams will secure their spots in the 2035 AFC Asian Cup.
Play-off Round
- The 6 worst-ranked losing teams from the First Round will participate in this stage.
- They will compete in home-and-away two-legged matches.
- The 3 winners will advance to the Third Round of Asian Cup qualification.
Third Round
- A total of 24 teams will participate: the 3 best-ranked losing teams from the First Round, the 3 winners from the Play-off Round, and the 18 teams that finished third in their groups in the Second Round.
- These teams will be divided into 6 groups of 4 teams each.
- Each group will play a single round-robin format at centralized venues.
- The winners and runners-up from each group will qualify for the 2035 AFC Asian Cup.
Qualification Table
| Round | Teams | Matches | Winners | Runners-up | Third Place | Fourth Place | Fifth Place | Sixth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | 20 teams | Home-and-away two-legged matches | 10 winners advance to Second Round | 3 best-ranked losing teams advance to Third Round of Asian Cup qualification | 6 worst-ranked losing teams advance to Play-off Round | |||
| Second Round | 36 teams (top 26 AFC teams + 10 First Round winners) | Double round-robin home-and-away matches | 9 group winners advance to Third Round of FIFA World Cup qualification and qualify for 2035 AFC Asian Cup | 9 group runners-up advance to Third Round of Asian Cup qualification | ||||
| Play-off Round | 6 teams (6 worst-ranked losing teams from First Round) | Home-and-away two-legged matches | 3 winners advance to Third Round of Asian Cup qualification | |||||
| Third Round | 24 teams (3 best-ranked losing teams from First Round + 3 Play-off Round winners + 18 third-placed teams from Second Round) | Single round-robin matches at centralized venues | 6 group winners qualify for 2035 AFC Asian Cup | 6 group runners-up qualify for 2035 AFC Asian Cup |
Notes
- The qualification format is subject to change based on decisions made by the AFC Executive Committee.
- Specific match dates, venues, and detailed regulations will be released by the AFC in due course.
References
- AFC Asian Cup 2027 Bid Book. (AFC Official Website).
- Bidding Regulations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. (AFC Official Website).
- AFC Asian Cup. (Wikipedia).
- This article is based on the qualification format used in previous editions and may be updated as new information becomes available.*
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