# 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification

The 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification was an international men's under-20 football competition which was held to decide the participating teams of the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup.

## Draw

45 out of 47 AFC member associations entered the competition. China (as the hosts of the final tournament) did not participate; nor did Pakistan.
The draw was held on 13 June 2024. The ten teams hosting the qualification groups were allocated to a separate pot, with other teams seeded according to their performance in the previous tournament and qualification process (overall ranking shown in parentheses).
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 | Pot 5 |
| Uzbekistan (1) Iraq (2) Japan (3) South Korea (4) Australia (5) Iran (6) Jordan (8) Vietnam (9) (H) Indonesia (10) (H) Tajikistan (10) (H) | Saudi Arabia (12) (H) Syria (13) Kyrgyzstan (14) (H) Oman (15) Qatar (16) (H) Thailand (17) (H) Lebanon (18) Yemen (19) Mongolia (20) Bahrain (21) | Chinese Taipei (22) (H) Malaysia (23) Bangladesh (24) Palestine (25) United Arab Emirates (26) Philippines (27) India (28) Myanmar (29) Timor-Leste (30) Singapore (31) | Afghanistan (32) Cambodia (33) Kuwait (34) (H) Turkmenistan (35) Laos (36) (H) Bhutan (37) Hong Kong (38) Sri Lanka (39) Brunei (40) Maldives (41) | Nepal (42) Guam (43) Northern Mariana Islands (44) North Korea (NR) Macau (NR) |

### Notes

* Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
* (H): Qualification group hosts
* NR: Non-ranked teams
* Did not enter: Pakistan

## Player eligibility

Players born on or after 1 January 2005 were eligible to compete in the tournament.

## Schedule

| Round | Groups A–E | Groups F–J |
| Matchday 1 | 21 September 2024 | 25 September 2024 |
| Matchday 2 | 23 September 2024 | 27 September 2024 |
| Matchday 3 | 25 September 2024 | 29 September 2024 |
| Matchday 4 | 27 September 2024 | — |
| Matchday 5 | 29 September 2024 | — |

## Groups

In each group, teams played each other once at a centralised venue.
* Tiebreakers
* Teams were 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 7.3):
* 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.

### Group A

* All matches were held in Vietnam.
* Times listed are UTC+7.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Syria | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | +15 | 12 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Vietnam (H) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 2 | +10 | 9 | |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | −6 | 4 | |
| 4 | Guam | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 2 | |
| 5 | Bhutan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 1 | |

### Group B

* All matches were held in Chinese Taipei.
* Times listed are UTC+8.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Uzbekistan | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | +20 | 12 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Cambodia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 7 | |
| 3 | Bahrain | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 6 | |
| 4 | Nepal | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 15 | −11 | 3 | |
| 5 | Chinese Taipei (H) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 1 | |

### Group C

* All matches were held in Kuwait.
* Times listed are UTC+3.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | +16 | 12 | Final tournament |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 5 | +12 | 7 | |
| 3 | Kuwait (H) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 7 | |
| 4 | Lebanon | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 3 | |
| 5 | Northern Mariana Islands | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37 | −37 | 0 | |

### Group D

* All matches were held in Saudi Arabia.
* Times listed are UTC+3.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Saudi Arabia (H) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 10 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Australia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 10 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Afghanistan | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 4 | |
| 4 | Palestine | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 | |
| 5 | Macau | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 1 | |

### Group E

* All matches were held in Tajikistan.
* Times listed are UTC+5.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | North Korea | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 10 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Oman | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 6 | |
| 3 | Tajikistan (H) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | |
| 4 | Malaysia | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 | −12 | 1 | |

### Group F

* All matches were held in Indonesia.
* Times listed are UTC+7.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Indonesia (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Yemen | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Timor-Leste | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Maldives | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | −10 | 0 | |

### Group G

* All matches were held in Laos.
* Times listed are UTC+7.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iran | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | +17 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | India | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 | |
| 3 | Laos (H) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 3 | |
| 4 | Mongolia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 18 | −17 | 0 | |

### Group H

* All matches were held in Thailand.
* Times listed are UTC+7.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iraq | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | +18 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Thailand (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 1 | +17 | 6 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Philippines | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Brunei | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | −32 | 0 | |

### Group I

* All matches were held in Kyrgyzstan.
* Times listed are UTC+6.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Kyrgyzstan (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Turkmenistan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Myanmar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 0 | |

### Group J

* All matches were held in Qatar.
* Times listed are UTC+3.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Qatar (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 9 | Final tournament |
| 2 | Jordan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 6 | Final tournament |
| 3 | Hong Kong | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 3 | |
| 4 | Singapore | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | −7 | 0 | |

## Ranking of second-placed teams

Due to groups having a different number of teams, the results against the fifth-placed teams in five-team groups were not considered for this ranking.
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | F | Yemen | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 2 | I | Kyrgyzstan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 3 | D | Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 | Final tournament |
| 4 | H | Thailand | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 1 | +17 | 6 | Final tournament |
| 5 | J | Jordan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 6 | Final tournament |
| 6 | A | Vietnam | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 6 | |
| 7 | G | India | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 | |
| 8 | B | Cambodia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 | |
| 9 | C | United Arab Emirates | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 4 | |
| 10 | E | Oman | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
* 1 2 Teams equal second. Disciplinary points criterion: Kyrgyzstan –4, Australia –4.

## Qualified teams

A total of 16 teams, including the hosts China, qualified for the final tournament.
| Team | Qualified as | Appearance | Previous best performance |
| China | Hosts | 20th | Champions (1985) |
| Syria | Group A winners | 12th | Champions (1994) |
| Uzbekistan | Group B winners | 9th | Champions (2023) |
| South Korea | Group C winners | 40th | Champions (1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2012) |
| Saudi Arabia | Group D winners | 15th | Champions (1986, 1992, 2018) |
| North Korea | Group E winners | 14th | Champions (1976, 2006, 2010) |
| Indonesia | Group F winners | 20th | Champions (1961) |
| Iran | Group G winners | 22nd | Champions (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) |
| Iraq | Group H winners | 19th | Champions (1975, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000) |
| Japan | Group I winners | 39th | Champions (2016) |
| Qatar | Group J winners | 16th | Champions (2014) |
| Yemen | Best runners-up | 7th | Quarter-finals (1975) |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2nd-best runners-up | 3rd | Group stage (2006, 2023) |
| Australia | 3rd-best runners-up | 9th | Runners-up (2010) |
| Thailand | 4th-best runners-up | 34th | Champions (1962, 1969) |
| Jordan | 5th-best runners-up | 9th | Fourth place (2006) |

## Goalscorers

There were 309 goals scored in 80 matches, for an average of 3.86 goals per match.
5 goals
* Caelan Ryan
4 goals
* Samir Tamang
* Ri Jong-dok
* Anas Dahhan
* Saidumarkhon Saidnurullayev
* Nguyễn Công Phương
* Ibrahim Al-Hassan
3 goals
* Jens Raven
* Esmaeil Gholizadeh
* Kasra Taheri
* Yaghoob Barajeh
* Amoori Faisal
* Aymen Luay
* Karrar Jaafar
* Mustafa Nawaf
* Sidad Haji
* Hagumu Nakagawa
* Soma Kanda
* Odeh Fakhoury
* Thamer Al-Khaibari
* Yousef Al-Shammari
* Turki Al-Yousef
* Ali Fakieh
* Yousuf Ali Al-Shabibi
* Mohamed Khaled Gouda
* Mohammad Al-Mustafa
* Nathakorn Rattanasuwan
* Eid Al-Hammadi
* Hazim Abaas
* Obaid Salem
* Nurlan Ibraimov
2 goals
* Luka Jovanovic
* Panagiotis Kikianis
* Khaled Al-Khalaf
* Sami Bassam
* Moinul Islam Moin
* Eav Sovannara
* Mean Chanrith
* Shuntaro Suzuki
* Manglenthang Kipgen
* Abbas Kahrizi
* Yousef Mazraeh
* Rando Hiroi
* Ibrahim Sabra
* Beknaz Almazbekov
* Baek Min-gyu
* Kim Gyeol
* Kim Tae-won
* Yoon Do-yong
* Talal Haji
* Souksavanh Hopchakkavan
* Oday Al-Manwari
* Choe Kuk
* Bassam Eid
* Youshaa Knaj
* Chanothai Kongmeng
* Thanawut Phochai
* Masrur Gafurov
* Alexandro Bahkito
* Luís Figo
* Ghaith Bader
* Saif Nasser
* Abdugafur Haydarov
* Azizbek Tulkunbekov
* Dilshod Abdullaev
* Lazizbek Mirzaev
* Mukhammadali Urinboev
* Ravshan Khayrullaev
* Hoàng Minh Tiến
* Abdulaziz Masnom
* Abdulrahman Al Khadher
1 goal
* Esmatullah Hadafmand
* Alexander Badolato
* Rhys Youlley
* Asadul Molla
* Mirajul Islam
* Piash Ahmed Nova
* Ali Ahmed Hasan
* Kinzang Tenzin
* Phan Vreak
* Phoeuk Thatthai
* Curtis Harmon
* Gavin Baker
* Anthony Pinto
* Ho Tung Lam
* Aditya Warman
* Figo Dennis
* Toni Firmansyah
* Muhammad Ragil
* Riski Afrisal
* Gwgwmsar Goyary
* Kelvin Singh Taorem
* Korou Singh Thingujam
* Thanglalsoun Gangte
* Abolfazl Moredi
* Ali Asghar Sheikholeslami
* Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia
* Farhan Bozorgianasl
* Ahmed Jasim
* Halgurd Qays
* Motoki Nishihara
* Abdelrahman Al-Khdour
* Anas Al-Khob
* Omar Khader
* Mohammad Taha
* Mahmoud Khrouba
* Baibol Ermekov
* Yryskeldi Madanov
* Baek Ga-on
* Hong Seok-hyun
* Jin Jun-seo
* Kim Ho-jin
* Kim Myung-jun
* Lee Chang-woo
* Lee Soo-ah
* Shim Yeon-won
* Ali Al-Mahdawi
* Awad Muhsen
* Ziyad Al-Ghamdi
* Bandar Al-Barazi
* Eid Al-Ruqbah
* Peter Phanthavong
* Phousomboun Panyavong
* Sayfon Keohanam
* Somvang Choummaly
* Anis Nehme
* Hassan Nasser
* Joe Khawaja
* Josef El Hajj
* Karim Kassem
* Kassem Watfa
* Mohamad Kassas
* Lei Cheng Lam
* Amir Farhan
* Haykal Danish
* Moses Raj
* Muzdhan Hassan
* Temulen Uuganbat
* Saw Sae Ka Paw Say
* Majid Al-Farsi
* Fahad Al-Mukhaini
* Faisal Al-Hadidi
* Muhand Al-Saadi
* Basim Elhaj
* Suheibelias Ali
* Bacchus Ekberg
* Cyrelle Saut
* Otu Banatao
* Rodrigo Mariñas
* Ra Mu-ryong
* Johnjimron Harish
* Ahmad Alkalou
* Wessam Dukhan
* Kawa Issa
* Abdulrahman Al-Mihi
* Esam Radman
* Mamdouh Warda
* Paripan Wongsa
* Phongsakorn Sangkasopha
* Siradanai Phosri
* Thanakrit Chotmuangpak
* Thanyakon Swangsuk
* Bilol Boboev
* Dzhovidon Khushvakhtov
* Mehrubon Khamidov
* Gurbangeldi Garajayev
* Gurbanmuhammet Esenov
* Magtymberdi Berenov
* Vabio Canavaro
* Chen Kuan-lin
* Kao Kuan-yu
* Yang Chao-jing
* Yousef Al-Marzouqi
* Saif Al-Kaabi
* Ahmed Al-Shammari
* Anthony Khayat
* Meyirbek Rejabaliev
* Daler Tukhsanov
* Lê Văn Quang Duyệt
* Nguyễn Bảo Long
* Nguyễn Đăng Dương
* Nguyễn Hoàng Khanh
* Nguyễn Hữu Tuấn
* Nguyễn Lê Phát
* Adel Qasem
* Anwar Al Turaiqi
* Mohammed Al Awami
1 own goal
* Asadul Islam Sakib (against Bhutan)
* Danish Firdaus (against Iraq)
* Wafiq Danish (against Thailand)
* Mahdi Osseili (against Kuwait)
* Mohamed Aiman Ali (against East Timor)
* Monico Claridades (against South Korea)
* Markus Toves (against South Korea)
* Bassam Eid (against Jordan)
* Nguyễn Ngọc Chiến (against Syria)