| India vs Hong Kong | |
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MATCH INFO |
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MATCH :
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India vs Hong Kong
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COMPETITION :
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AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
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| DATE: |
10-05-2025
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TIME:
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05.30 PM IST (UTC +5:30)
04.00 PM UAE
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STADIUM
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Arena
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Here's a clean, informative, and Google-ranked friendly overview of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, based on your detailed input:
AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers: Format, History & Key Details
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification process is an extensive campaign organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to determine the 24 national teams that will compete in the 19th edition of Asia’s most prestigious international men's football tournament, hosted by Saudi Arabia.
Historical Context
The qualification process is not held in isolation. Instead, it is jointly organized with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Asian nations—making the journey to the Asian Cup even more competitive and meaningful.
Qualification Format: A Four-Round Journey
A total of 46 FIFA-affiliated Asian nations entered the qualification process, which unfolds across four main rounds:
1. First Round (October 2023)
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Teams Involved: 20 lowest-ranked teams (ranked 27–46 in Asia)
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Format: Two-legged (home and away) knockouts
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Outcome:
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10 winners progressed to the second round
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3 best-ranked losing teams entered the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers
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6 lowest-ranked losing teams moved to a play-off round
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2. Second Round (November 2023 – June 2024)
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Teams Involved: 36 teams (ranked 1–26 + 10 First Round winners)
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Group Stage: 9 groups of 4 teams
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Format: Double round-robin (home and away)
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Outcome:
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9 group winners and 9 runners-up qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup
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These 18 also advanced to the third round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
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The remaining 18 teams entered the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers
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3. Play-Off Round
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Teams Involved: 6 worst-ranked teams from the first round
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Format: Two-legged knockouts
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Outcome: 3 winners joined the third round of the Asian Cup qualification
4. Third Round (Dates TBD)
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Teams Involved: 24 teams
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3 best losing teams from the first round
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18 third- and fourth-placed teams from the second round
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3 play-off winners
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Groups: 6 groups of 4
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Format: Home-and-away round-robin
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Outcome: Only the group winners (6 teams) qualify for the final tournament
Host Nation & Special Notes
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Saudi Arabia, as host, qualifies automatically for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
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Northern Mariana Islands, an AFC member but not a FIFA member, was eligible to participate but was excluded from the qualification draw.
Key Takeaways
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Total Slots: 24 for the final tournament.
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Direct Qualifiers via Second Round: 18 teams (group winners and runners-up).
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Final 6 Slots: To be decided in the third round of AFC qualifiers.
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Draw Date: The first and second round draw was conducted on 27 July 2023, with seeding based on FIFA rankings.
This unified qualification path increases the stakes, excitement, and competitive balance of both the AFC Asian Cup and World Cup journeys, showcasing the rising footballing standard across Asia.