The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has scheduled the final draw for the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2026 for September 10. Officials will hold the formal seeding ceremony at 3 p.m. at AFC House in Malaysia. Consequently, the 12 participating national teams will be divided into three balanced groups of four.
The continental tournament will take place from November 18 to November 28 across several coastal stadiums. Furthermore, Thailand will host the prestigious beach soccer event for the fourth time in Phang Nga Province. Thailand will join the United Arab Emirates as the tournament’s most frequent host.
Organizers have placed the 12 participating teams into four pots based on historical performance rankings. Specifically, officials calculated the rankings using cumulative results from the previous three editions of the Asian Cup. Pot 1 includes hosts Thailand, four-time defending champions Iran, and Oman.
Pot 2 features Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. Meanwhile, Pot 3 includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Vietnam. Finally, Pot 4 contains Afghanistan, Iraq, and Uzbekistan, all returning to the competition after missing the previous edition.
The tournament format promises intense group-stage competition, with eight teams advancing to the knockout stage. Group winners and runners-up will qualify directly for the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-place teams. Therefore, every group-stage match will carry significant importance for teams seeking continental glory.
The major sporting event is expected to boost regional tourism and increase the popularity of beach soccer across Asia. Moreover, organizers anticipate strong attendance and international media coverage throughout the tournament. Ultimately, the participating teams will await the draw results as they finalize their tactical preparations and logistics.