The Syrian national football team has successfully secured its place in the AFC Asian Cup 2027, becoming the first side to qualify from the third round of preliminary matches. This achievement comes after they decisively topped Group E, with two crucial matches still remaining in their qualification campaign.
Meanwhile, intense competition is unfolding across five other qualifying groups, where various nations are vying for the remaining five coveted berths in the tournament, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2027. Among the teams locked in fierce contention are the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Turkmenistan, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Yemen, and Tajikistan, each battling for supremacy in their respective groups.
With their dominant performance in Group E, Syria’s progression means they are now the 19th team overall to confirm their participation in the prestigious Asian Cup. While Syria celebrates, other nations like Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan appear to be playing out their remaining fixtures without a realistic chance of advancing from these specific qualifying rounds.
The qualification structure for the AFC Asian Cup features six groups, each comprising four teams. A stringent requirement dictates that only the top-ranked team from each of these groups will earn a direct ticket to the finals in Saudi Arabia, while the remaining three teams in each group face elimination from this stage of the competition.
In Group A, the Philippines currently holds the top position with 10 points after four matches, mirroring the points tally of second-placed Tajikistan. The battle for qualification from this group is now a direct contest between these two nations, as East Timor, with 3 points, and Maldives, still without any points, have both been mathematically eliminated.
Group B sees Lebanon leading the provisional standings with 10 points from four outings, closely followed by Yemen, who have accumulated 8 points. With just two matches left, Brunei (3 points) and Bhutan (1 point) are out of contention for the top spot.
In Group C, Hong Kong sits atop the standings with 8 points, an identical record to second-placed Singapore. Bangladesh and India, both with 2 points after four games, have been knocked out of the third round, leaving Hong Kong and Singapore to compete head-to-head for group supremacy in their final two fixtures.
Group D presents a tight three-way race for qualification in the final two rounds of matches. Turkmenistan leads the group with 9 points, level with second-placed Thailand. Sri Lanka remains in contention with 6 points, while Chinese Taipei has already been eliminated.
Finally, in Group F, Malaysia currently leads the pack with a perfect 12 points. They are closely pursued by Vietnam, who have gathered 9 points. These two nations are set to contest the top spot in their remaining two matches. The situation for Malaysia comes amidst an ongoing review regarding the eligibility of a naturalized player, though this has not yet affected their current standing. Meanwhile, Laos, with 3 points, and Nepal, who have yet to register a point, are both out of the running.
In total, 24 teams will compete in the AFC Asian Cup 2027. The 19 teams that have already secured their qualification spots include hosts Saudi Arabia, alongside Australia, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan, defending champions Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Korea, Oman, Palestine, Bahrain, Jordan, China, Indonesia, North Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, and now, Syria.
