The draws for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 Qualifiers was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
India were drawn alongside Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Turkmenistan in Group D. The matches will be hosted by Thailand between October 19-27, 2024.
43 teams were divided into 10 groups – seven of four each and three of five. The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams among all groups will advance to the Finals, with Saudi Arabia scheduled to host the tournament between April 3-20, 2025.
India will aim to qualify for the AFC U17 Asian Cup for the fourth successive time. In their last finals appearance in 2023 in Thailand, the Blue Colts were eliminated in the group stage. India have qualified for AFC U17 Asian Cup nine times, twice reached the quarter-finals in 2002 and 2018. Eliminated from group stage in 1990, 1996,2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 (host) and 2023.
Before the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers, India will participate in the SAFF U17 Championship, to be held in Bhutan between September 18-28, 2024.
AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025 Draw Result:
Group A: IR Iran, Jordan (H), Syria, Hong Kong, China, DPR Korea
Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia (H), Philippines, Macau
Group C: Korea Republic, China PR (H), Bahrain, Bhutan, Maldives
Group D: Thailand (H), India, Brunei Darussalam, Turkmenistan
Group E: Uzbekistan, Iraq, Chinese Taipei (H), Palestine
Group F: Japan, Qatar (H), Mongolia, Nepal
Group G: Australia, Indonesia, Kuwait (H), Northern Mariana Islands
Group H: Malaysia, Laos (H), United Arab Emirates, Lebanon
Group I: Yemen, Vietnam (H), Kyrgyz Republic, Myanmar
Group J: Tajikistan, Oman, Singapore (H), Guam
Picture Courtesy: AIFF Media
