The teams were drawn into four groups – three groups of five and one group of four – to contest in a centralised league format from January 11 to 19, 2025.
Nine teams – the top two of each group and the best third-placed team among all groups – will progress to the Finals and join hosts China PR and 2018’s top two, Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan, to continue their quest for glory.
Group A will see hosts Thailand, Lebanon, Bahrain, Palestine and Iraq vying for the top two spots while Group B will feature Indonesia (hosts), Hong Kong, China, Pakistan, India and Kyrgyz Republic.
Hosts Uzbekistan will have Turkmenistan, Australia, Philippines and Kuwait for company in Group C while the four teams in Group D are Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Macau and hosts Myanmar.
Nine sides – Australia, India, Iraq, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palestine and the Philippines – will eye first-time qualification for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, with both prior editions (2015 and 2018) having been won by Iran
Another draw will be conducted prior to the start of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup China 2025 for the 12 qualified teams, who will be split into three groups of four; the top two finishers in each group and the two best third-placed teams will then advance to the last eight.
The top three finishers at the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup China 2025 will seal their berths at the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, to be hosted by the Philippines – who have automatically qualified – in the second half of 2025.
If the Philippines progress to the semi-finals of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup China 2025, the other three semi-finalists will qualify for the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025; otherwise, the two finalists and winners of the third-place playoff will qualify.
The AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup China 2025 will be contested on May 7-18.
