The 2031 AFC Asian Cup qualification is a process organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to determine the participating teams for the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, the 20th edition of Asia's premier international men's football championship.

The 2031 AFC Asian Cup qualification process also serves as part of the Asian qualification pathway for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The qualification structure is designed to streamline the selection process for both the AFC Asian Cup and the FIFA World Cup. It consists of multiple rounds, with teams entering at different stages based on their FIFA rankings and past performance.

• Teams ranked 27th to 46th in the AFC rankings participate in this round.
• These 20 teams compete in home-and-away two-legged matches.
• The 10 winners advance to the Second Round.
• The 3 best-ranked losing teams advance to the Third Round of Asian Cup qualification.
• The 6 worst-ranked losing teams advance to the Play-off Round.

• A total of 36 teams participate: the top 26 AFC teams and the 10 winners from the First Round.
• These teams are divided into 9 groups of 4 teams each.
• Each group engages in a double round-robin format, playing home-and-away matches.
• The winners and runners-up from each group advance to the Third Round of FIFA World Cup qualification.
• Additionally, these 18 teams secure their spots in the 2031 AFC Asian Cup.

• The 6 worst-ranked losing teams from the First Round participate in this stage.
• They compete in home-and-away two-legged matches.
• The 3 winners advance to the Third Round of Asian Cup qualification.

• A total of 24 teams participate: the 3 best-ranked losing teams from the First Round, the 3 winners from the Play-off Round, and the 18 teams that finished third in their groups in the Second Round.
• These teams are divided into 6 groups of 4 teams each.
• Each group plays a single round-robin format at centralized venues.
• The winners and runners-up from each group qualify for the 2031 AFC Asian Cup.

All 46 AFC member associations are expected to enter the qualification process. The teams are seeded based on their FIFA rankings and past performances, ensuring a balanced and competitive qualification phase.

The qualification matches are scheduled to take place between 2029 and 2030, with specific dates to be announced by the AFC. The schedule is designed to align with the International match calendar, allowing for optimal preparation and participation of the national teams.

A total of 24 teams will qualify for the 2031 AFC Asian Cup through this qualification process. These teams will join the host nation, which qualifies automatically, to compete in the tournament.

The qualification phase not only determines the teams participating in the AFC Asian Cup but also showcases individual talents. Top goalscorers from the qualification rounds often emerge as key players to watch in the main tournament.

• AFC Asian Cup
• FIFA World Cup qualification
• 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

• The qualification format is subject to change based on decisions made by the AFC Executive Committee.
• Specific match dates, venues, and detailed regulations will be released by the AFC in due course.

• AFC Asian Cup 2027 Bid Book. (AFC Official Website).
• Bidding Regulations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. (AFC Official Website).
• AFC Asian Cup. (Wikipedia).