# 2018 AFC U-16 Championship qualification

The 2018 AFC U-16 Championship qualification was an international men's under-16 football competition which decides the participating teams of the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship.
A total of 16 teams qualified to play in the final tournament, including Malaysia who qualified automatically as hosts.

## Draw

Of the 47 AFC member associations, a total of 45 teams entered the competition. The final tournament hosts Malaysia also entered in qualification despite having automatically qualified for the final tournament (they had not been confirmed as hosts at the time of the qualification draw).
The draw was held on 21 April 2017, 15:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 45 teams were drawn into ten groups: five groups of five teams and five groups of four teams. For the draw, teams were divided into two zones:
* West: 23 teams from West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia, to be drawn into five groups: three groups of five teams and two groups of four teams (Groups A–E).
* East: 22 teams from ASEAN and East Asia, to be drawn into five groups: two groups of five teams and three groups of four teams (Groups F–J).
The teams were seeded in each zone according to their performance in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship final tournament and qualification (overall ranking shown in parentheses; NR stands for non-ranked teams). The following restrictions were also applied:
* The seven teams which indicated their intention to serve as qualification group hosts prior to the draw were drawn into separate groups.
| | Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 | Pot 5 |
| West Zone | Iraq (1) Iran (2) (H) Oman (5) United Arab Emirates (6) (W) Uzbekistan (7) | Kyrgyzstan (10) Saudi Arabia (11) (H) Yemen (12) India (13) Tajikistan (17) (H) | Syria (21) Jordan (22) Afghanistan (23) Qatar (25) (H) Palestine (28) | Bangladesh (30) Bahrain (31) Lebanon (33) Nepal (34) (H) Turkmenistan (36) (W) | Maldives (37) Bhutan (NR) Sri Lanka (NR) |
| East Zone | North Korea (3) Japan (4) Vietnam (8) South Korea (9) Thailand (14) (H) | Malaysia (15) (Q) Australia (16) China (18) Hong Kong (19) Laos (20) | Timor-Leste (24) Myanmar (26) (H)* Chinese Taipei (27) (H)* Singapore (29) Mongolia (32) (H) | Cambodia (35) Philippines (38) Macau (39) Guam (40) Northern Mariana Islands (41) | Brunei (NR) Indonesia (NR) |

### Notes

* Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
* (H): Qualification group hosts (* Chinese Taipei and Myanmar chosen as group hosts after the draw, remaining group hosted at neutral venue)
* (Q): Final tournament hosts, automatically qualified regardless of qualification results
* (W): Withdrew after draw

## Player eligibility

Players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible to compete in the tournament.

## Format

In each group, teams play each other once at a centralised venue. The ten group winners and the five best runners-up qualify for the final tournament. If the final tournament hosts Malaysia win their group or are among the five best runners-up, the sixth best runner-up also qualifies for the final tournament.

### Tiebreakers

Teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 9.3):
* Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
* Goal difference in all group matches;
* Goals scored in all group matches;
* Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
* Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
* Drawing of lots.

## Groups

The matches were played between 16 and 29 September 2017.

### Group A

* All matches were held in Saudi Arabia.
* Times listed are UTC+3.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Jordan | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 10 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia (H) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 2 | +13 | 9 | |
| 3 | Uzbekistan | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 7 | |
| 4 | Bahrain | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 3 | |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | −29 | 0 | |

### Group B

* All matches were held in Tajikistan.
* Times listed are UTC+5.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Tajikistan (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | +17 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Oman | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 1 | +13 | 6 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Syria | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Maldives | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 28 | −28 | 0 | |
| 5 | Turkmenistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew |

### Group C

* All matches were held in Iran.
* Times listed are UTC+4:30 on 16–20 September, UTC+3:30 on 22–24 September 2017.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iran (H) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | +14 | 12 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Afghanistan | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Kyrgyzstan | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 4 | |
| 4 | Lebanon | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 3 | |
| 5 | Bhutan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 1 | |

### Group D

* All matches were held in Nepal.
* Times listed are UTC+5:45.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iraq | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | India | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 5 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Palestine | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 3 | |
| 4 | Nepal (H) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 1 | |

### Group E

* All matches were held in Qatar.
* Times listed are UTC+3.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Yemen | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 6 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Bangladesh | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | Qatar (H) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0 | |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew |

### Group F

* All matches were held in Chinese Taipei.
* Times listed are UTC+8.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | North Korea | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | +28 | 12 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Hong Kong | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 6 | |
| 3 | Brunei | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 6 | |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei (H) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 6 | |
| 5 | Macau | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 22 | −22 | 0 | |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head results: Chinese Taipei 0–2 Hong Kong, Brunei 1–2 Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong 1–2 Brunei. Head-to-head standings: Hong Kong: 3 pts, +1 GD Brunei: 3 pts, 0 GD Chinese Taipei: 3 pts, −1 GD

### Group G

* All matches were held in Thailand.
* Times listed are UTC+7.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Indonesia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | +24 | 12 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Thailand (H) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 2 | +16 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Timor-Leste | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 10 | +7 | 6 | |
| 4 | Laos | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 3 | |
| 5 | Northern Mariana Islands | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 49 | −48 | 0 | |

### Group H

* All matches were held in Myanmar.
* Times listed are UTC+6:30.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | China | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 | Myanmar (H) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Philippines | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | −15 | 0 | |

### Group I

* All matches were held in Mongolia.
* Times listed are UTC+8.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | +16 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Vietnam | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 6 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Cambodia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 3 | |
| 4 | Mongolia (H) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 | −19 | 0 | |

### Group J

* All matches were held in Indonesia (neutral venue host).
* Times listed are UTC+7.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | +35 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Malaysia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 6 | +14 | 6 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Singapore | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 3 | |
| 4 | Guam | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 43 | −41 | 0 | |
* ↑ Malaysia, as final tournament hosts, automatically qualified regardless of qualification results.

## Ranking of second-placed teams

Due to groups having different number of teams and the withdrawal of United Arab Emirates from Group E, the results against the fifth and fourth-placed teams in five and four-team groups are not considered for this ranking.
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | D | India | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 4 | Final tournament |
| 2 | B | Oman | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 3 | Final tournament |
| 3 | G | Thailand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 3 | Final tournament |
| 4 | J | Malaysia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 3 | Final tournament |
| 5 | I | Vietnam | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 3 | Final tournament |
| 6 | C | Afghanistan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 3 | Final tournament |
| 7 | A | Saudi Arabia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | E | Bangladesh | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | H | China | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 10 | F | Hong Kong | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 | |
* 1 2 Ranked by disciplinary points (Malaysia: –2 pts; Vietnam: –10 pts).
* 1 2 3 Ranked by disciplinary points (Saudi Arabia: –4 pts; Bangladesh: –4 pts; China PR: –5 pts).

## Qualified teams

The following 16 teams qualified for the final tournament.
| Team | Qualified as | Qualified on | Previous appearances in AFC U-16 Championship |
| Malaysia | Hosts | 25 July 2017 | 4 (2004, 2008, 2014, 2016) |
| Jordan | Group A winners | 24 September 2017 | 2 (1990, 2010) |
| Tajikistan | Group B winners | 24 September 2017 | 2 (2006, 2010) |
| Iran | Group C winners | 22 September 2017 | 10 (1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) |
| Iraq | Group D winners | 24 September 2017 | 9 (1985, 1988, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016) |
| Yemen | Group E winners | 22 September 2017 | 5 (2002, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016) |
| North Korea | Group F winners | 24 September 2017 | 10 (1986, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) |
| Indonesia | Group G winners | 22 September 2017 | 5 (1986, 1988, 1990, 2008, 2010) |
| South Korea | Group H winners | 29 September 2017 | 13 (1986, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016) |
| Australia | Group I winners | 24 September 2017 | 5 (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) |
| Japan | Group J winners | 24 September 2017 | 14 (1985, 1988, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) |
| India | 1st best runners-up | 24 September 2017 | 7 (1990, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) |
| Oman | 2nd best runners-up | 24 September 2017 | 9 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) |
| Thailand | 3rd best runners-up | 24 September 2017 | 10 (1985, 1988, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2012, 2014, 2016) |
| Vietnam | 5th best runners-up | 24 September 2017 | 6 (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2016) |
| Afghanistan | 6th best runners-up | 29 September 2017 | 0 (debut) |
    $^1$ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

## Goalscorers

10 goals
* Sutan Zico
8 goals
* Keita Nakano
7 goals
* Tyson Savas
6 goals
* Yusuke Aoki
* Chony Wenpaserth
5 goals
* Yuji Yoshida
* Mohammad Semreen
* Kim Kang-song
* Hassan Al-Ali
* Marc Ryan Tan
* Thanarin Tumsen
* Đoàn Chí Bảo
4 goals
* Sayed Jawad Alawi
* Ra Nam-hyon
* Jeong Sang-bin
* Ahmadkhon Emomali
* Rustam Soirov
* Warakorn Thongbai
* Paulo Gali
* Mouzinho
3 goals
* Ahmad Shabir Rashidi
* Birkan Kirdar
* Bagus Kahfi
* Mochammad Supriadi
* Rendy Juliansyah
* Hamsa Lestaluhu
* Ahmad Shariat
* Alireza Bavieh
* Amir Jafari
* Kuraba Kondo
* Aiman Haikhal
* Birjesh Chaudhary
* Kim Jin-hyok
* Kim Won-il
* Ri Jo-guk
* Islom Zairov
* Nattakit Butsing
* Osamah Al-Baadani
2 goals
* Ali Zahidi
* Noman Walizada
* Cameron Peupion
* Noah Botic
* Tristan Hammond
* Abbas Fadhel Al-Asfoor
* Abdulrahman Sayed
* Aminuddin Masri
* Ky Rina
* Lin Chun-kai
* Yang Sheng-kai
* Kyle Halehale
* Sean Snelder
* Chan Shinichi
* Harpreet Rulbir
* Amanar Abdillah
* Mahdi Seyedi
* Shervin Rezaei
* Kenta Aoshima
* Ryotaro Araki
* Obada Al-Ruzi
* Reziq Banihani
* Sergei Shipovskii
* Sisouphonh Ackhavong
* Danial Amali
* Luqman Hakim
* Danish Ishak
* Alif Mutalib
* Temuulen Erdenetsogt
* An Phyong-il
* Won Hyok
* Fahad Al-Rasbi
* Mulham Al-Sinaidi
* Nasser Al-Naabi
* Omar Al-Salti
* Tariq Al-Mashary
* Mahmoud Wridat
* Jaber Qarradi
* Meshari Al-Mashhari
* Vasileios Chua
* Park Se-jun
* Sharifbek Rahmatov
* Punnawat Choten-Jirachaithon
* Jhon Frith
* Luis Conceição
* Serafin Brito
* Jasurbek Jaloliddinov
* Temur Mamasidikov
* Hà Trung Hậu
* Nguyễn Quốc Hoàng
* Võ Nguyên Hoàng
* Sultan Thabit
1 goal
* Ahmad Tamim Mirzada
* Amin Nezami
* Samir Samandari
* Sayed Asghar
* Jaiden Kucharski
* Ryan Teague
* Dipok Roy
* Foysal Ahmed Fahim
* Kelzang Jigmi
* Ady Aiman
* Abdul Raziq Lamit
* Hakeme Yazid Said
* Eddy Shahrol Izzat
* Hirman Abdul Lapti
* Bunthoeun Bunnarong
* Ly Mael
* Met Samel
* Aifeierding Aisikaer
* Pan Yusheng
* Subi Abulimiti
* Zhang Xingliang
* Liang Meng-hsin
* Tong Connor Hew Fung
* Wong Yat
* Lau Ka Kiu
* Tung Willis Siu Hang
* Bekey Oram
* Givson Singh Moirangthem
* Vikram Pratap Singh
* Andre Oktaviansyah
* Amirhossein Azizi
* Hossein Shaverdi
* Ahmed Al-Hilfi
* Abdullah Hameed
* Mohammed Mandalawi
* Abdulrazzaq Qasim
* Hasan Shanan
* Genki Koshio
* Shinya Nakano
* Hikaru Naruoka
* Jun Nishikawa
* Maaya Sako
* Kohshiro Sumi
* Keita Ueda
* Asahi Yokokawa
* Ahmad Al-Zghoul
* Amer Jamous
* Thaer Khaleel
* Bekkhan Rysbekov
* Ananthana Chanthamaly
* Phoutthalak Thongsanith
* Soubanh Keopheth
* Phonesavanh Keomanyvong
* Mohamad Zgheib
* Ralph Nader Hadchity
* Wassim Ayach
* Amirul Azzim
* Ikhwan Hafizo
* Harith Haiqal
* Umar Hakeem
* Firdaus Kaironnisam
* Faiz Khairi
* Ahmad Zikri Khalili
* Harith Naem
* Aleff Haedi Za’ba
* Gan-erdene Erdene-ochir
* Kaung Khant Kyaw
* Pyae Phyo Aung
* Shwe Ko
* Yan Naing Lin
* Ye Htet Aung
* Zaw Win Thein
* Ian Maniago
* Kim Jin-guk
* Ko Chang-ung
* Ri Hun
* Ri Yong-gwang
* Song Hyok
* Al Azhar Al-Balushi
* Issa Al-Naabi
* Osama Al-Hadabi
* Qusai Al-Jaradi
* Jassim Al-Zarra
* Abdullah Al-Beshi
* Bander Whaeshi
* Basim Hassan
* Khalid Kaabi
* Rayan Al-Arfaj
* Farhan Zulkifli
* Fathullah Rahmat
* Choi Min-seo
* Hong Yun-sang
* Kim Dong-hyeon
* Lee Jun-suk
* Lee Tae-seok
* Paik Sang-hoon
* Yoon Suk-ju
* Abdal Rahman Al-Khatib
* Ahmad Amara
* Ahmad Hatem
* Mohammad Maatouk
* Omar Naghnugh
* Yasin Abo Karsh
* Azizbek Khasanov
* Isroil Kholov
* Shohrukh Sangov
* Arthit Bua-ngam
* Jakkapong Sanmahung
* Thakdanai Jaihan
* Elias
* Ejivanio
* Daniyar Sabirov
* Mirjalol Kosimov
* Ruslan Roziev
* Đậu Ngọc Thành
* Đinh Thanh Trung
* Nguyễn Thế Hùng
* Võ Minh Đan
* Hamzah Sabah
* Tamer Senan
* Yahya Al-Baleet
1 own goal
* Anoulack Vannalath (against Thailand)
* Xiao Rongrui (against North Korea)
* Ahmed Nahil Ibrahim (against Tajikistan)
* Joshua Mendez (against Timor Leste)
* Arichandran Thanujan (against Saudi Arabia)
* Luis Conceição (against Laos)
2 own goals
* Robert Niu (against Japan, Singapore)