Pakistani footballers are poised to mark a historic moment in the country’s sports domain by featuring in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers for the very first time. Pakistan joins 31 other nations in the competition, which will officially commence with the draw on June 26 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.
Tournament Structure and Pakistan’s Position
The 32 participating teams will be divided into eight groups for the qualifiers—seven groups of four teams and one group of three. The matches will be held in a centralized league format from September 20 to September 24.
Pakistan has been placed in Pot 4, alongside other debutant or lower-ranked teams. This seeding is based on the latest FIFA Futsal Men’s World Rankings, where Pakistan is currently unranked. This upcoming qualification campaign presents a valuable opportunity for the national side to gain international exposure and accumulate crucial ranking points.
The top team from each group, along with the seven best second-placed sides, will earn a spot in the 18th edition of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Finals in Indonesia, scheduled for January 2026.
The competition is expected to be fierce, with futsal powerhouses such as Iran (World No. 5), Thailand (11), Japan (13), and Uzbekistan (23) among the top-seeded teams. These nations have maintained a consistent presence in every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1999.
The national side, meanwhile, will be aiming to pull off a few surprises and establish a foundation for long-term progress within the Asian futsal landscape.
The group draw, scheduled for 3 PM Malaysia time on June 26, has generated considerable anticipation as Pakistan eagerly awaits its first taste of continental futsal competition.
Pots for AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers:
- Hosts Pot: Thailand (11; Seeding: 1), Kuwait (40; 1), Tajikistan (44; 2), Kyrgyz Republic (48; 2), Saudi Arabia (50; 2), Myanmar (56; 2), Malaysia (76; 2), China PR (79; 3)
- Pot 1: Islamic Republic of Iran (5), Thailand (11), Japan (13), Uzbekistan (23), Vietnam (31), Afghanistan (33), Kuwait (40), Iraq (41)
- Pot 2: Tajikistan (44), Kyrgyz Republic (48), Saudi Arabia (50), Australia (52), Lebanon (53), Myanmar (56), Korea Republic (70), Malaysia (76)
- Pot 3: China PR (79), Chinese Taipei (82), Bahrain (83), United Arab Emirates (97), Maldives (106), Timor-Leste (109), Mongolia (112), Macau (115)
- Pot 4: Hong Kong, China (118), Brunei Darussalam (119), Palestine (121), Cambodia (125), India (135), Bangladesh (unranked), Pakistan (unranked)
