AFC Asian Cup
With only the six group winners to advance Saudi Arabia 2027, fans can expect those still in contention to produce their best.
Group A
Maldives v Tajikistan
Venue: Maldives National Football Stadium (Male)
Kick-off: 15:30 (UTC+5)
Philippines v Timor-Leste
Venue: New Clark City Athletics Stadium (Capas)
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+8)
Barring the unexpected, Group A is set to go down to the wire with the battle for the top spot between Philippines and Tajikistan.
Philippines lead the standings on goal difference after both sides took their points haul to seven with impressive wins on Thursday.
Maldives v Tajikistan
Venue: Maldives National Football Stadium (Male)
Kick-off: 15:30 (UTC+5)
Philippines v Timor-Leste
Venue: New Clark City Athletics Stadium (Capas)
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+8)
Barring the unexpected, Group A is set to go down to the wire with the battle for the top spot between Philippines and Tajikistan.
Philippines lead the standings on goal difference after both sides took their points haul to seven with impressive wins on Thursday.
Bjorn Kristensen stole the show with all four goals in the Philippines’ 4-1 defeat of Timor-Leste on Matchday Three but it was the Southeast Asia side’s overall performance that delivered victory and they will be determined to not slip up in the reverse fixture at home.
Tajikistan kept pace with a 2-0 win against Maldives, sealing the tie with first half goals but they do face a trickier reverse fixture as they will play in Male.
Maldives will be on a mission to prove themselves, with the South Asian side yet to get points on the board.
Tajikistan kept pace with a 2-0 win against Maldives, sealing the tie with first half goals but they do face a trickier reverse fixture as they will play in Male.
Maldives will be on a mission to prove themselves, with the South Asian side yet to get points on the board.
Group B
Bhutan v Lebanon
Venue: Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium (Al Wakrah)
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+3)
Yemen v Brunei Darussalam
Venue: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium (Ardhiyah)
Kick-off: 20:00 (UTC+5)
Lebanon’s focus will be on protecting their two-point lead in Group B as they seek a third-consecutive appearance at the continental showpiece.
Bhutan v Lebanon
Venue: Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium (Al Wakrah)
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+3)
Yemen v Brunei Darussalam
Venue: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium (Ardhiyah)
Kick-off: 20:00 (UTC+5)
Lebanon’s focus will be on protecting their two-point lead in Group B as they seek a third-consecutive appearance at the continental showpiece.
Miodrag Radulovic’s side netted twice in the second half to see off the challenge of a stubborn Bhutan on Thursday and they can expect similar resistance in Tuesday’s reverse fixture but will be confident of their chances.
Yemen look to be their closest challengers, with the West Asian side finally getting on the winning trail on Tuesday after two draws.
They face Brunei Darussalam again on Tuesday and will be focused on another three points after winning Thursday’s tie 2-0.
Brunei Darussalam, however, need victory if they are to keep their hopes of a first appearance at the AFC Asian Cup Finals alive, with the Southeast Asian side on three points.
Yemen look to be their closest challengers, with the West Asian side finally getting on the winning trail on Tuesday after two draws.
They face Brunei Darussalam again on Tuesday and will be focused on another three points after winning Thursday’s tie 2-0.
Brunei Darussalam, however, need victory if they are to keep their hopes of a first appearance at the AFC Asian Cup Finals alive, with the Southeast Asian side on three points.
Group C
Hong Kong, China v Bangladesh
Venue: Kai Tak Stadium (Hong Kong)
Kick-off: 20:00 (UTC+8)
India v Singapore
Venue: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Goa)
Kick-off: 19:30 (UTC+5:30)
Thursday’s 4-3 win against Bangladesh saw Hong Kong, China open a two-point lead in Group C and the East Asian side will expect maximum points again when they host the reverse fixture at the Kai Tak Stadium.
Hong Kong, China v Bangladesh
Venue: Kai Tak Stadium (Hong Kong)
Kick-off: 20:00 (UTC+8)
India v Singapore
Venue: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Goa)
Kick-off: 19:30 (UTC+5:30)
Thursday’s 4-3 win against Bangladesh saw Hong Kong, China open a two-point lead in Group C and the East Asian side will expect maximum points again when they host the reverse fixture at the Kai Tak Stadium.
Ashley Westwood will, however, send his charges out with the instruction of avoiding Thursday’s drama, which saw Bangladesh first taking the lead and then coming from behind to draw level at 3-3 in added on time.
Hong Kong, China had second-half substitute Raphael Merkies - who completed his hat-trick in the 11th minute of added time - to thank for the win and head coach Westwood will expect a much calmer outing on Tuesday, especially with the home fans backing his side.
Singapore’s hopes of qualifying on merit for the first time suffered a late blow, with India equalising in the 90th minute on Thursday and the Southeast Asians can expect an even more difficult 90 minutes in Goa.
India just about kept their chances alive with the last gasp draw and will be fired up for victory after a difficult campaign which has seen them picking up two points thus far.
Hong Kong, China had second-half substitute Raphael Merkies - who completed his hat-trick in the 11th minute of added time - to thank for the win and head coach Westwood will expect a much calmer outing on Tuesday, especially with the home fans backing his side.
Singapore’s hopes of qualifying on merit for the first time suffered a late blow, with India equalising in the 90th minute on Thursday and the Southeast Asians can expect an even more difficult 90 minutes in Goa.
India just about kept their chances alive with the last gasp draw and will be fired up for victory after a difficult campaign which has seen them picking up two points thus far.
Group D
Chinese Taipei v Thailand
Venue: Taipei Municipal Stadium (Taipei)
Kick-off: 18:30 (UTC+8)
Turkmenistan v Sri Lanka
Venue: Arkadag Stadium (Arkadag)
Kick-off: 18:45 (UTC+5)
Leon Perera threw Group D wide open after his strike secured Sri Lanka a 1-0 win against previously perfect Turkmenistan on Thursday.
Chinese Taipei v Thailand
Venue: Taipei Municipal Stadium (Taipei)
Kick-off: 18:30 (UTC+8)
Turkmenistan v Sri Lanka
Venue: Arkadag Stadium (Arkadag)
Kick-off: 18:45 (UTC+5)
Leon Perera threw Group D wide open after his strike secured Sri Lanka a 1-0 win against previously perfect Turkmenistan on Thursday.
The win not only drew Sri Lanka level with Turkmenistan at the top of the standings but also allowed Thailand back into the race, with all three sides on six points with three matchdays remaining.
The South Asian side, however, will now have to navigate past Turkmenistan away if they are to stay in sight of a first appearance at the AFC Asian Cup Finals.
Thailand, who looked to be on the ropes after their 3-1 defeat to Turkmenistan on Matchday Two, rebounded in style against Chinese Taipei with a 2-0 win and will expect another three points against the East Asian side despite playing away.
The South Asian side, however, will now have to navigate past Turkmenistan away if they are to stay in sight of a first appearance at the AFC Asian Cup Finals.
Thailand, who looked to be on the ropes after their 3-1 defeat to Turkmenistan on Matchday Two, rebounded in style against Chinese Taipei with a 2-0 win and will expect another three points against the East Asian side despite playing away.
Group E
Myanmar v Syria
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium (Yangon)
Kick-off: 17:00 (UTC+6:30)
Afghanistan v Pakistan
Venue: Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium (Ardiyah)
Kick-off: 18:00 (UTC+3)
Syria will be the first side from the Final Round of the Qualifiers to confirm their spot at the Finals if they defeat Myanmar in Yangon on Tuesday.
Myanmar v Syria
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium (Yangon)
Kick-off: 17:00 (UTC+6:30)
Afghanistan v Pakistan
Venue: Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium (Ardiyah)
Kick-off: 18:00 (UTC+3)
Syria will be the first side from the Final Round of the Qualifiers to confirm their spot at the Finals if they defeat Myanmar in Yangon on Tuesday.
Syria made it three wins out of three with their 5-1 victory against previously perfect Myanmar on Thursday and the West Asian side will fancy their chances of repeating the victory despite having to play in Yangon.
Afghanistan and Pakistan will be playing for pride when they square off with both sides only able to garner one point thus far.
Afghanistan and Pakistan will be playing for pride when they square off with both sides only able to garner one point thus far.
Group F
Nepal v Vietnam
Venue: Thong Nhat Stadium (Ho Chi Minh City)
Kick-off: 19:30 (UTC+7)
Malaysia v Laos
Venue: Bukit Jalil National Stadium (Kuala Lumpur)
Kick-off: 21:00 (UTC+8)
Malaysia are the other side in the Final Round with a perfect record and the Southeast Asian team will target maximum points against Laos on Tuesday.
Nepal v Vietnam
Venue: Thong Nhat Stadium (Ho Chi Minh City)
Kick-off: 19:30 (UTC+7)
Malaysia v Laos
Venue: Bukit Jalil National Stadium (Kuala Lumpur)
Kick-off: 21:00 (UTC+8)
Malaysia are the other side in the Final Round with a perfect record and the Southeast Asian team will target maximum points against Laos on Tuesday.
A second-half surge saw Malaysia cruise to a 3-0 win in Vientiane on Thursday and they will view anything other than victory at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium as failure.
Vietnam, who trail by three points, will be focused on staying in the race when they welcome Nepal to the Thong Nhat Stadium, having won Thursday’s tie 3-1.
Vietnam, who trail by three points, will be focused on staying in the race when they welcome Nepal to the Thong Nhat Stadium, having won Thursday’s tie 3-1.
Related News
- AFC Asian Cup
Qualifiers - Final Round: MD3 Results & Reports
- AFC Asian Cup
Ishii praises Thailand’s response; Thayaparan salutes Sri Lanka’s collective effort
- AFC Asian Cup
Singapore’s Lee frustrated by India stalemate; Jamil draws confidence
- AFC Asian Qualifiers
Playoffs - Preview Group B: Saudi Arabia v Iraq
- AFC Asian Qualifiers
Playoffs - Preview Group A: Qatar v UAE
Item 1 of 5