India drawn with former champs Iran

India will open their campaign against Palestine, followed by matches against Chinese Taipei, Lebanon and a potential group decider against Iran, the 2008 champions and 2023 semi-finalists.

AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026: India’s Group D schedule

November 22 : Palestine vs India

: Palestine vs India November 26 : India vs Chinese Taipei

: India vs Chinese Taipei November 28 : India vs Lebanon

: India vs Lebanon November 30: Iran vs India

A total of 38 football teams are vying for a place at the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026, which will be held in Saudi Arabia from May 7 to 24.

Teams have been divided into seven groups – three with six teams and four with five. All group winners will qualify for the final tournament. India were seeded in Pot 2 and placed in a separate Hosts Pot to avoid being drawn with other host nations.

AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers groups

Group A : China, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka

: China, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka Group B : Yemen, Laos, Kyrgyz Republic, Cambodia, Guam, Pakistan

: Yemen, Laos, Kyrgyz Republic, Cambodia, Guam, Pakistan Group C : Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Northern Mariana Islands, Macau China

: Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Northern Mariana Islands, Macau China Group D : Iran, India, Palestine, Chinese Taipei, Lebanon

: Iran, India, Palestine, Chinese Taipei, Lebanon Group E : Australia, Iraq, Philippines, Jordan, Bhutan

: Australia, Iraq, Philippines, Jordan, Bhutan Group F : Thailand, Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Maldives

: Thailand, Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Maldives Group G: Oman, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Nepal

India have qualified for the main draw of the AFC U17 Asian Cup, previously known as the U16 Asian Cup, nine times. They failed to qualify for the 2025 edition held in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the nine AFC teams competing at the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025 – Qatar, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Tajikistan, UAE and Indonesia – have all received automatic berths for the 2026 continental tournament.

Uzbekistan are the defending AFC U17 Asian Cup champions, while Japan are the most successful team in the history of the tournament with four triumphs.

The top eight finishers at the AFC U17 Asian Cup will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025.

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