The road to the AFC Asian Cup 2027 has grown increasingly bleak for South Asian teams, with Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan all facing early exits from the qualifiers following a series of disappointing results.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have officially been eliminated from contention after back-to-back defeats. Pakistan’s campaign in Group E ended with a narrow 1-0 loss to Myanmar, compounding an earlier defeat to Syria. With zero points from two matches, their qualification hopes are now extinguished.
Afghanistan fared no better, falling 1-0 to Syria after an opening defeat to Tajikistan. Like Pakistan, they sit at the bottom of their group, out of the race for Saudi Arabia 2027.
India and Bangladesh, grouped together in Group C, are also on the brink of elimination. India, still winless, suffered a second straight setback with a 1-0 loss to Hong Kong after opening with a goalless draw against Bangladesh. They now sit at the bottom of the group with just one point.
Bangladesh, despite a promising start with the draw against India, fell 2-1 to Singapore and currently sit third—also with only one point but ahead of India on goal difference.
With only the group winners from the third round earning a place in the 2027 Asian Cup, the window is rapidly closing for these teams. As their campaigns wind down, attention will now shift to rebuilding efforts and future competitions, with hopes of mounting stronger qualification bids in the years to come.
