Pakistan Set to Face India in Women’s Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers Showdown

Islamabad, Oct 18: This year’s AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers draw results are out with Pakistan seeing their familiar foes India in the same group.

Following the drawings, which took place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Pakistan was assigned to Group B. Pakistan will be accompanied by Indonesia (host nation), Hong Kong, China, India, and the Kyrgyz Republic.

The 19 teams with the idea to qualify to the main stage have been divided into four groups of three groups of five teams and one group comprising four teams to participate in centralised league to be played between 11th and 19th of January 2025.

Several countries will qualify through Group A including Thailand, Lebanon Bahrain, Palestine and Iraq while Turkmenistan Australia, the Philippines and Kuwait will battle for slot in Group C for the host nation Uzbekistan. Group D consists of Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Macau and host country Myanmar.

A total of nine teams will qualify to the main championship, the two best teams of each group and the third of all groups with the best performances, to be joined by the hosts, China, 2018’s champions, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan.

Among the teams accompanying Australia, India, Iraq, Kuwait, the Kyrgyz Republic, Myanmar, Palestine and the Philippines, Pakistan will be striving for the first qualification. However, before the tournament starts the qualified teams will be drawn again into three groups of four teams each; the winners and runners-up of each group and the two best third placed teams will qualify for the quarterfinals

In 2025, the top three finishers of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup will receive a direct qualification for the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup.

From May 7 to May 18, 2025, the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup will take place, with Iran defending its title.