![Pakistan to debut in AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers [Geo News]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/AFC-Futsal-Asian-Cup-trophy.jpg "Pakistan to debut in AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers [Geo News]")
Pakistan is set to create history by participating in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers for the very first time.
The journey to the 2026 Finals in Indonesia will officially begin with the draw on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.
This marks Pakistan’s debut in the Asian futsal qualification pathway, joining 31 other nations in the competition.
The 32 participating teams will be split into eight groups—seven groups of four and one group of three—for the qualifiers, which will be held in a centralised league format from September 20 to 24.
Pakistan has been placed in Pot 4, along with other debutant or lower-ranked teams. The seeding is based on the latest FIFA Futsal Men’s World Rankings, where Pakistan is currently unranked.
This makes the upcoming qualifiers a valuable opportunity to gain international exposure and collect ranking points.
The top team from each group, along with the seven best second-placed sides, will qualify for the 18th edition of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Finals in Indonesia, scPakistan has been placed in Pot 4, along with other debutant or lower-ranked teamsheduled for January 2026.
The competition will be fierce, with futsal giants like Iran (World No. 5), Thailand (11), Japan (13), and Uzbekistan (23) among the top-seeded teams. These nations have maintained a consistent presence in every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1999.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will be aiming to pull off a few surprises and build a foundation for long-term progress in the Asian futsal landscape.
The group draw, scheduled for 3 PM Malaysia time on June 26, has generated considerable anticipation as Pakistan awaits its first taste of continental futsal competition.
Pots for Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers:
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)
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)