The Asian Football Confederation confirmed on July 16, 2026 that a record 30 teams will feature in the qualifiers for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027, two more than the previous high of 28 recorded in 2019. These teams have been allocated to eight groups, consisting of six groups of four and two groups of three, to play a single round-robin format in centralised venues between October 5 and 11. The winners of each group will progress to the finals tournament, which China will host from March 31 to April 17, 2027 for the second successive time, according to AFC announcements.
Four sides have already booked their places in the finals as the top four from the 2026 edition, with defending champions DPR Korea joined by Japan, Australia and host nation China PR. An additional draw scheduled for December will establish the group compositions for the 12-team finals. The leading quartet at the conclusion of the China competition will earn qualification to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2027, AFC data places.
Among those competing in the qualifiers for the first time are Bhutan, along with 11 other nations including Cambodia, Iraq, the Kyrgyz Republic, Macau, Malaysia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates, an AFC assessment found. The United Arab Emirates were drawn into Group A with the Republic of Korea, Jordan and hosts Tajikistan in what marks their entry into the U17WAC Qualifiers cast that sets sights on China 2027. WAM reported on the composition while the AFC noted that this debut campaign comes amid growing engagement in women’s youth football across Asia.
The seeding process relied on a points-based ranking drawn from the previous three editions of the tournament to form four pots plus a separate hosts pot. Korea Republic head Pot 1 alongside the Philippines, India, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia while Pot 4 features Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia and Iraq, the AFC reported. The AFC outlined further groups that see Indonesia facing hosts Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain while Chinese Taipei contends with Iran, hosts Laos and Cambodia.
The AFC draw placed Vietnam as hosts of Group D against the Kyrgyz Republic, Northern Mariana Islands and Palestine with the remaining groups completing the lineup for the October competition. The centralised league format allows all matches within a group to be played at one venue over the designated week, streamlining logistics for the participating federations. Preparation among the teams is continuing as the start date nears, according to the AFC.
