CAFA U17 Tournament Provides Qualification for the Asian Cup
An important announcement has been made for Central Asian football. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
From now on, the CAFA U17 tournament is no longer just a regional championship, but has become a qualifying competition that grants direct qualification to the final stage of the Asian Cup. This decision was made by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) at a meeting held in Jeddah in January 2026.
Accordingly, the general continental qualifiers for the Asian Cup for players under 17 will be canceled. The qualifications will be distributed through competitions organized by regional federations.
The composition of the Asian Cup final stage remains unchanged — it will feature 16 teams. The biggest change is in the distribution of qualification spots.
Eight quotas have been allocated for both the East and West regions. In the West Asia zone, CAFA was given 3 qualification spots.
This means that the top three teams in the CAFA championship will qualify directly for the Asian Cup final stage. The quotas are distributed as follows: 4 for the East Asian Football Federation, 4 for the ASEAN Football Federation, 4 for the West Asian Football Federation, 3 for CAFA, and 1 for the South Asian Football Federation.
If the host country is from the region, it automatically qualifies for the final stage, and this quota is counted within the regional allocation. These changes create a great opportunity for Uzbekistan.
Now, every CAFA match carries great importance, effectively acting as a mini-final. The 3 quotas allocated to CAFA represent a significant opportunity for Central Asian countries.
Competition in the region is strong, but the chances of qualification are also high. With proper preparation, good selection, and discipline, Uzbekistan can qualify for the Asian Cup final stage in the 2028 cycle.
In conclusion, CAFA is no longer just an additional tournament, but the main gateway to the Asian stage. However, opening this gateway depends on the results on the field.
