Pakistan to Make Debut in AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers
Pakistan enters the draw in Pot 4, alongside other lower-ranked or unranked teams who are also debuting in the qualifiers.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to mark a historic milestone in its futsal journey by participating in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers for the first time in history.
The road to the 2026 Finals in Indonesia will officially be laid out during the draw on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur. This will be Pakistan’s debut in the Asian futsal qualification pathway, placing them among 31 participating teams that will be divided into eight groups—seven groups of four and one group of three. Matches will be played in a centralized league format between September 20 and 24.
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Pakistan enters the draw in Pot 4, alongside other lower-ranked or unranked teams who are also debuting in the qualifiers. Pot placement is determined by the latest FIFA Futsal Men’s World Rankings, in which Pakistan remains unranked, making this campaign crucial for gaining international exposure and ranking points.
Pots for Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers:
| Pot | Teams (Ranking) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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) |
The top eight group winners and seven best runners-up from the qualifiers will join hosts Indonesia in the 18th edition of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Finals, scheduled to begin in January 2026.
The road to the Futsal Asian Cup won’t be easy for Pakistan, as Asian powerhouses such as Iran (world no. 5), Thailand (11), Japan (13), and Uzbekistan (23) are again among the seeded nations and are aiming to extend their record of qualifying for every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1999.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will aim to spring a surprise and use this experience to build toward a more sustained presence in the Asian futsal scene.
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