The draw for AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers was held on Monday at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Twenty-four teams, divided into six groups, will compete in a home-and-away format to secure a place in the final tournament. Only the six group winners will qualify, joining the 18 teams already assured of spots, including defending champions Qatar and host nation Saudi Arabia.
Bangladesh, currently ranked 185th in FIFA rankings, has been placed in Group C alongside higher-ranked opponents: India (127), Hong Kong (156), and Singapore (161). The qualifiers will take place across 2025 and 2026.
Bangladesh's Match Schedule:
March 25, 2025: Bangladesh vs. India (away)
June 10, 2025: Bangladesh vs. Singapore (home)
October 9, 2025: Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong (home)
October 14, 2025: Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong (away)
November 18, 2025: Bangladesh vs. India (home)
March 31, 2026: Bangladesh vs. Singapore (away)
Group Line-ups for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers:
Group A: Tajikistan, Philippines, Maldives, Timor-Leste
Group B: Lebanon, Yemen, Bhutan, Brunei
Group C: Bangladesh, India, Hong Kong, Singapore
Group D: Thailand, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka
Group E: Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan
Group F: Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Laos
The qualifiers promise tough competition for Bangladesh, especially against regional heavyweight India. Bangladesh's home matches offer a crucial opportunity to gather points and build momentum for qualification.
