Overview

• The AFC held separate draws in Kuala Lumpur on August 7, placing 38 men’s teams into seven groups and 27 women’s teams into eight groups.
• Ahmedabad’s Arena will stage Group D of the men’s qualifiers from November 22 to 30, where India faces Palestine, Chinese Taipei, Lebanon and Iran.
• India’s women’s U17 team was drawn into Group G in Bishkek and will meet Kyrgyzstan on October 13 and Uzbekistan on October 17.
• Teams were seeded into pots based on their performances in the past three tournaments, with hosts drawn separately to ensure each group contains one host nation.
• Securing a men’s qualifying venue for the first time and returning to the women’s qualifiers after 2005 highlights India’s growing investment in youth football.