Pakistan’s journey towards the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 will officially begin this November with the qualifiers after the national U17 side was placed in Pot 6 for the qualifying draw, scheduled to be held on August 7 by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers will run from November 22 to 30 across seven host nations: India, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Kyrgyz Republic, and Jordan. A total of 43 nations are in the fray, and the draw will determine which teams compete in each of the seven qualifying groups.
Pakistan’s placement in the lowest seeding pot—Pot 6—means they are likely to face strong competition in the group stage of the AFC U17 Qualifiers, with higher-ranked sides from Pots 1 through 5 forming the core of their group. Pot 6 also features Macau and Sri Lanka, the only other nations seeded at the same level.
The tournament format will consist of three groups of six teams and four groups of five teams. Group winners and the best-performing runners-up will qualify for the main event in 2026, where Asia’s top youth teams will compete for continental glory.
Despite facing a tough draw ahead, Pakistan’s participation in the AFC U17 Qualifiers marks a continued effort by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to reintegrate the country into regional and continental football circuits after years of administrative turmoil. This will be Pakistan’s first appearance in an AFC U17 qualifying campaign since 2018, which is already a positive sign for the country.
As the draw approaches, all eyes will be on who Pakistan are grouped with, especially with potential fixtures against regional heavyweights in the offing. For Pakistan, the qualifiers represent both a challenge and an opportunity to prove their potential on a bigger stage after years of neglect.
